Inclusion in the American Military: A Force for Diversity

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Description

The U.S. military can be thought of as a microcosm of American society, bringing in people from diverse backgrounds and history to defend one nation. Military leaders must address the same issues and concerns as those found in the civilian world, including exclusion, segregation, and discrimination. In some cases, the military has led the nation by creating policies of inclusion before civilian laws required them to do so. In other causes, the military has lagged behind the larger society. The goal of this book is to provide an overview of the ways in which diversity has been addressed in the military by providing information about particular forms of diversity including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexuality. Subject matter experts provide their insights into the roles that each of these groups have played in the U.S. armed services as well as the laws, rules, and regulations regarding their participation. Ultimately, the authors utilize this information as a way to better understand military diversity and the unique ways that individuals incorporate the military into their sense identity.

Reviews

This primer on diversity in the US military is intended as an overview, offering ten contributions on different minority groups whose members serve in the armed forces. The book makes the experiences of minority groups accessible to readers with different levels of expertise on the subject. [W]ith chapters on Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, women, and gays and lesbians, this bookfills a gap in the literature on diversity and military sociology. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic levels/libraries. * CHOICE *
This is an excellent introduction to diversity in the military, its success stories, and the continuing challenges of maintaining a diverse and representative fighting force. Written and edited by those responsible for educating and training the next generation of diverse military leaders, this book shows how the military has addressed past challenges of integrating diverse groups, and how it must continue to do so as new and different social groups seek equitable participation in the military. -- Meredith A. Kleyklamp, University of Maryland, College Park
A Force for Diversity is packed with information, analysis and intersections of many dimensions of diversity in the armed forces. Scholarly, but eminently readable, it is written by some of the foremost experts on the topics. This volume, filled with research and practical applications, will serve as a useful source for anyone concerned with diversity in the military, military effectiveness, and fairness. -- Mady W. Segal, University of Maryland, College Park
Rohall, Ender and Matthews provide a robust and cogent presentation of the benefits and challenges of diversity in our armed forces.In an era of historical transformations in social inclusion within the military this volume stands out for its inclusive examination of diversity statuses as well as itsmico- to macro-levelscope of analysis. This scholarship is informative, timely, provocative and sets the standard for discussion and research on diversity in the armed forces in the 21st century. -- Ryan Kelty, Washington College
The growing importance of managing diversity within organizations applies also to the Armed Services. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the facets of this topic, addresses current challenges andmost importantlydoesnt spare sensitive issues. Therefore it is an indispensable source for decision makers in military organizations. -- Hubert Annen, Military Academy at ETH Zurich

Author Bio

David Rohall is professor of sociology at Missouri State University. Morten G. Ender is professor of sociology in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Military Academy. Michael D. Matthews is professor of engineering psychology at the United States Military Academy.