Minority and Gender Differences in Officer Career Progression
Since the military draft ended in 1975, newly commissioned officers haveincluded increasing numbers of minorities and women. These officers must beretained and promoted for the senior officer ranks to become as diverse asthe junior officer ranks are today. This report examines whether minorityand women officers obtain these promotions and choose to continue in theircareers at the same rate as other officers. The authors conducted tworesearch efforts: analyzing personnel records and interviewing midcareerofficers, personnel managers, and promotion board members individually andin focus groups. Results for minorities other than blacks were limited dueto small sample sizes. White women were found to be less likely to reachhigher officer ranks than were men, mostly because they chose to leave themilitary between promotions. Black male and black female officers generallyfailed promotions in higher proportions than did white males, but were morelikely to stay in the military between promotions. The interviews and focusgroups revealed different perceptions about careers: Black officers seemedto have greater difficulty forming all-important peer and mentorrelationships and overcoming initial expectations of lower performance.Women's careers have been affected by limited occupational opportunities,inconsistent acceptance of their role as military officers, harassment, andfamily conflicts.
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Document Details
- Copyright: RAND Corporation
- Availability: Available
- Print Format: Paperback
- Paperback Pages: 207
- List Price: $20.00
- Paperback Price: $16.00
- Paperback ISBN/EAN: 0-8330-2876-6
- Document Number: MR-1184-OSD
- Year: 2001
- Series: Monograph Reports
Contents
Preface PDF
Figures PDF
Tables PDF
Summary PDF
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments PDF
Chapter One
Introduction PDF
Chapter Two
Description of an Officer's Career PDF
Chapter Three
Differences in Retention and Promotion for Minority and Female Line Officers PDF
Chapter Four
Officers' Perceptions of Racial Differences in Career Progression PDF
Chapter Five
Officers' Perceptions of Gender Differences in Career Progression PDF
Chapter Six
Conclusion PDF
Appendix A
Performance Evaluation Procedures by Service PDF
Appendix B
Instructions to Promotion and Other Selection Boards Regarding Minorities and Women PDF
Appendix C
Detailed Description of Promotion and Retention Data Analysis PDF
Appendix D
Qualitative Research Methodology PDF
Appendix E
Promotion Board Member Focus Group Protocol. PDF
Appendix F
Midcareer Officer One-On-One Interview Protocol. PDF
Appendix G
Midcareer Officer Focus Group Protocol PDF
References PDF
The research described in this report was performed under the auspices of RAND's National Security Research Division.
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