| Summary: | Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. === Blacks have joined the enlisted ranks of the American military in record numbers since the end of the draft. However, the armed forces are now engaged in the process of downsizing, and there is some speculation that blacks may be disproportionately affected by the reduction-in-force. This study analyzes defense drawdown policies, force demographics, historical trends, and environmental factors in an attempt to determine the overall impact of the proposed cuts in military manpower on persons in different racial/ethnic groups. The result show that black representation in the military has declined somewhat since 1990; and that it may continue to fall as the force reduction processes over the next several years and possibly beyond. It is recommended that further study be undertaken of the differential effects of the force downsizing on persons in the various racial/ethnic groups; and that the search continue for effective alternatives to the current enlistment test in screening applicants to the military.
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