Military Racial Policy


"Equal Opportunity"

Those That Served >> Military Racial Policy >> "Equal Opportunity"
Search Tips



Froehlke, Robert F. "Army Policy: Secretary of the Army." Commander's Digest. Vol. 12, no. 2. Washington, D.C. GPO, May 18, 1972. P. 6.

SuDoc No.: D2.15/2

Insert abstract here....




FULL TEXT


Army Policy: Secretary of the Army

Robert F. Froehlke


  • As the Secretary of the Army, I want equal opportunity for all, and I expect everyone in the Army to follow that policy.

  • We have done it in the past and we are going to do it in the future: communicate the policy, make sure the policy is followed, and where it is not, move fast and harshly to correct discrimination.

  • You do not change people's attitudes overnight. But we have to work on it as fast as we can. I believe that in the Army we are aware that we must change... And where we can change things overnight, we are.

  • For instance, my predecessor, Secretary Stanley R. Resor, turned out a directive which allows commanders in the field to declare off-limits those establishments, those housing units, which practice racial discrimination. This is very clear evidence that we are doing something, and I think it is one of the most significant steps we have taken.

  • We in the Army do not want to do business with any individual or group of individuals who practice racial discrimination.

  • I am sure there are cases of racial discrimination in the Services where no action is taking place because people in authority do not know about them.

    However, one thing is very clear – the Army's policy is that wherever we find racial discrimination we will take action to correct it.

  • We must do a better job, both in the civilian sector and in the military sector, in getting minority groups represented in the higher ranks.

  • We are a long way from perfect... But I do feel strongly that for years the military has led in this area. We have a long way to go, but statistical trends show that we are going in the right direction.

  • We in the Army are looking for topnotch blacks, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, who can be promoted through the noncommissioned ranks. We are looking for the minority-group member who can become a second lieutenant and eventually rise to becoming a general. The opportunities are unlimited.
Return to list

Send feedback or questions to kief@aavw.org
Kief Schladweiler
Librarian, NYC


Free Speech Online Blue Ribbon Campaign