Pride, Progress, and Prospects. A History of the Marine Corps Efforts to Increase the Presence of African-American Officers (1970-1995)

摘要

This document represents a history of the Marine Corps efforts to increase the presence of African-Americans in its officer ranks during the 1970- 1995 period. The word presence is used vice the term number in the title of this effort because it transcends the singular focus of quantity. Presence underscores the relative importance of certain areas that contribute to the career progression of commissioned officers. Among those areas are accessions, military occupational specialties, assignments, and promotions. The primary focus will be unrestricted and restricted commissioned officers (Warrant officers are not included); however, I will briefly review the service of all ranks of African-Americans from colonial times to the Korean War.