Segregation in the American military

[GLASNOST]

What would pakis be doing in an American army unit in Somalia?

Pakistan was present in Somalia as a UN Peace-keeping force. The photo I quoted does not indicate those two are "in an American army unit". In fact, looking at them I can see very clear signs that they are not of African heritage but typically Indo-Pak features.

 

[AZrailwhale]

Pakistan was present in Somalia as a UN Peace-keeping force. The photo I quoted does not indicate thoe two are "in an American army unit". In fact, looking at them I can see very clear signs that they are not of African heritage but typically Indo-Pak features.

I see US soldiers in U.S. uniforms. Not pakis.

 

[GLASNOST]

Pakistan was present in Somalia as a UN Peace-keeping force. The photo I quoted does not indicate those two are "in an American army unit". In fact, looking at them I can see very clear signs that they are not of African heritage but typically Indo-Pak features.

I see US soldiers in U.S. uniforms. Not pakis.

I don't think you know what Pakistanis look like.

 

[Cassandro]

What is your problem? Does clarity frighten you?

You sound like an attention whore.

 

[GLASNOST]

You sound like an attention whore.

Is that what it sounds like to you? I asked a legitimate question and I encouraged earnest and legitimate input. Why? Because I want to know. But you make (or see) a statement and if someone thinks it is incomplete or needs further depth you interpret it as a personal confrontation. THIS IS A DISCUSSION, not a one-up-man-ship challenge, you idiot. Your mouth sure is flapping but I am willing to bet my next pension check that you don’t even know what has been said here. Come on, prove me wrong.

 

[pinqy]

Possibly because the standards are much higher in Special operations units. I believe every applicant has to have at least a secret security clearance and given the amount of crime in the black population, I believe most blacks can't pass a security clearance. A simple misdemeanor can scuttle a security clearance. In my day (Vietnam) marijuana use would scuttle a security clearance application, any criminal acts at all would scuttle a security clearance investigation.

I’ve held a security clearance since 1990, and you’re way off as far as drug use. I’ve known at least one guy who had been a pot dealer and had no trouble getting a TS clearance. Knew another who, when filling out a questionnaire on which drugs you’ve done, complained to the administrators that “they’re not all on here.”

As long as you are honest about past drug use, they don’t care what you’ve done.

I’m not certain about misdemeanor convictions, but the general rule is that unless you lie, or have some secret you could be blackmailed over, they don’t much care what you’ve done.

However, my opinion is that they African Americans tend to join the Army more for reasons of self-improvement or to get out of bad home life, avoid gangs, etc rather than any kind of machismo or being gung-ho. So many cannot pass the high test scores or physical qualifications (yes, including swimming ability) or just don’t have the inclination.

More Whites join due to family tradition (especially in the South) or wanting to prove themselves and kick ass.

I am way over generalizing, of course.

 

[AZrailwhale]

I’ve held a security clearance since 1990, and you’re way off as far as drug use. I’ve known at least one guy who had been a pot dealer and had no trouble getting a TS clearance. Knew another who, when filling out a questionnaire on which drugs you’ve done, complained to the administrators that “they’re not all on here.”

As long as you are honest about past drug use, they don’t care what you’ve done.

I’m not certain about misdemeanor convictions, but the general rule is that unless you lie, or have some secret you could be blackmailed over, they don’t much care what you’ve done.

However, my opinion is that they African Americans tend to join the Army more for reasons of self-improvement or to get out of bad home life, avoid gangs, etc rather than any kind of machismo or being gung-ho. So many cannot pass the high test scores or physical qualifications (yes, including swimming ability) or just don’t have the inclination.

More Whites join due to family tradition (especially in the South) or wanting to prove themselves and kick ass.

I am way over generalizing, of course.

My experience was during Vietnam. Any history of drug use or criminality was an automatic rejection. I guess minor misdemeanors might have been waiverable.

 

[GLASNOST]

I’ve held a security clearance since 1990 ,.... I’ve known at least one guy who had been a pot dealer and had no trouble getting a TS clearance. .

True?

 

[pinqy]

True?

Yes. He had never been convicted and was honest throughout the investigation

 

[GLASNOST]

Yes. He had never been convicted and was honest throughout the investigation

I am surprised.

 

[Cassandro]

Is that what it sounds like to you? I asked a legitimate question and I encouraged earnest and legitimate input. Why? Because I want to know. But you make (or see) a statement and if someone thinks it is incomplete or needs further depth you interpret it as a personal confrontation. THIS IS A DISCUSSION, not a one-up-man-ship challenge, you idiot. Your mouth sure is flapping but I am willing to bet my next pension check that you don’t even know what has been said here. Come on, prove me wrong.

What is your problem? Does clarity frighten you?

 

[GLASNOST]

You .....

 

[DGS49]

Vietnam was "sort of" integrated. Most MOS's were either predominantly White or predominantly Black, so depending on what you were doing, it might have been integrated or not.

In recent conflicts, the casualties have been predominantly White - more so than the raw percentages of soldiers would predict. Draw your own conclusions. Elite units are predominantly White.

 

[GLASNOST]

Elite units are predominantly White.

Can't deny that but maybe it's because of who is more likely to think in terms of "Never volunteer for anything".

Vietnam was "sort of" integrated.

In Vietnam we were integrated "in the field" but back "at base camp" there was a general self-tendency to segregrate. It was all about our social standards from back in "the world". I integrated easily at base camp because of my love of jazz music but when it came to most other things there wasn't much common ground to unite us. It wasn't anyone's fault. Racism existed both with whites and blacks but very few bragged about it openly. We depended upon each other too much for that.