Hispanics Make Great Strides in Military

By Rudi Williams American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON -- Hispanics have always met the challenge of serving the nation with great fervor, said Army Chaplain (Capt.) Carlos C. Huerta of the 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery, Fort Sill, Okla. "In every war, in every battle, on every battlefield, Hispanics have put their lives on the line to protect freedom," Huerta wrote in "Hispanic Heritage Month 1996: Hispanics - Challenging the Future," his research paper for the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.

"Hispanics have made great strides in the military, due in large part to the military's equal opportunity program, which minimizes racism or discrimination barriers," Huerta wrote. Huerta noted Hispanic accomplishments and challenges, based on September 1995 data:

o Where once there were no Hispanic general or flag officers, now there are nine: five in the Air Force, two in the Army and two in the Navy.

o There are 15 Hispanic general officers in the reserve components: 12 brigadier generals, two two-star generals and one three-star general.

o Hispanics comprise 2.8 percent of active duty officers and 6.4 percent of the enlisted ranks.

o Hispanic women comprise 2.9 percent of active duty female officers and 5.9 percent of enlisted ranks.

o Hispanics comprise 3 percent of reserve officers and 7 percent of the enlisted ranks. o Hispanics are 5.9 percent of DoD's civilian work force with 1.8 percent working at the GS-10 level or above.

o Hispanic women make up 5.6 percent of DoD's female civilian work force. They comprise 1.1 percent of DoD's female personnel working at the GS-10 level or above.