Black Military Enlistment Takes Nosedive

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Black military enlistment has sharply declined in recent years, according to the Associated Press.

Compared to 2001, nearly 40 percent fewer African Americans signed on the dotted line last year -- that number includes both active duty and reserve recruits.

The Army has been hardest hit. Blacks made up more than 20 percent of recruits in 2000, but that's now down to a modest 12 percent.

Better job opportunities and discouraging relatives are driving potential recruits to make different choices.

Curtis Gilroy, the Pentagon's director of accession policy, says the drop is due, in large part, to blacks' opposition to the Iraq war. "It began about four years ago," he said.

Sean Glover, 36, of Washington, D.C., is quoted in the article, saying: "I don't think it's a good time. I don't support the government's efforts here and abroad. There's other ways you can pay for college. There's other ways you can get your life together. Joining the Army, the military, comes at a very high price."

Do you agree?

Geoffrey Bennett

12:50 PM ET | 06-25-2007 | permalink

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