Association of Naval Services Officers

Opinion on Hispanic Americans in the Senior Ranks of the Armed Forces

Opinion on Hispanic Americans in the Senior Ranks of the Armed Forces
by
William D. Rodriguez
Rear Admiral, United States Navy, Retired
Board Member, Hispanic Veterans Leadership Alliance (HVLA)
Past President, Association of Naval Services Officers (ANSO)

The continuing focus on Diversity and Inclusion has become more of a "Race issue" and a "Gender issue" than an "Ethnicity issue". The Hispanic American population has grown to be the largest minority group in this country, and yet, comparatively speaking, our Armed Forces still do not reflect “the face of the nation” with regard to the Hispanic American population. This is particularly true in the Flag and General Officer, senior officer and senior enlisted ranks. This is NOT Diversity and Inclusion! As you will remember, forty-five years ago the emphasis to increase the number of African Americans in key colleges, universities and other educational and business institutions was through Affirmative Action and Quota Control. This program which was deemed as successful had its flaws. It had very little, if any, regard for any ethnic community, and there was little concern for meritocracy. Of note, however, the program eventually produced a significant number of African American Flag and General Officers. These senior officers then served as examples and potential mentors to those who came behind them. Similar to what was done for the African Americans over forty-five years ago, there should be a renewed emphasis and focus on the ethnic communities, specifically, the Hispanic American Community. Furthermore, there should be an in-depth analysis of the demographics of Hispanic Americans in the Armed Forces and specifically in its senior ranks, and the DoD and the Services should take an approach towards tracking and mentoring of Hispanic Americans in order to advocate for them, ensure they are fully qualified for promotion into the senior ranks of the Armed Forces, and are given a fair and objective opportunity for promotion without prejudice or discrimination.

Full version of the Op-Ed can be found here.

November 12, 2020

Happy Veterans Day 2020!

On Veterans Day we honor all of those who have served our country in war or peace and thank all veterans for their sacrifices.

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, the day when the fighting stopped during World War I. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. A Congressional Act in 1938 made the 11th of November a legal holiday. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation” in 1954, and Nov. 11 became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars. (Source)

The videos below, although a few years old, provide the history and some statistics. We cannot forget our brothers and sisters of the newly formed US Space Force, most of which transferred from the US Air Force.

We wish all veterans and their families a safe and happy Veterans Day!

Visit the VA page for more history.

https://youtu.be/mWD4Oy6fKlo

https://youtu.be/_XNNqpnGVkQ

November 11, 2020

Happy 245th Marine Corps Birthday

On behalf of the entire ANSO membership, we wish a happy 245th birthday to all our Marine Corps brothers and sisters.

In the video below, Gen. David H. Berger reminds us how the Corps' legacy lives on in every Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Staff Sgt. Erik Estrada)

Devil dogs and leathernecks are two of the names used to describe these fierce defenders of liberty.

World War I, At the Battle of Belleau Wood, Sergeant Daniel Joseph Daly, USMC, led a legendary charge against the German line, rallied his Marines by yelling “Come On, You Sons of Bitches, Do You Want to Live Forever?”
Unless you are on the wrong side of the charge, you have got to love that!

https://www.military.com/marine-corps-birthday/marine-corps-history-early-years.html
https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/edward-gomez

Semper Fidelis!

https://youtu.be/oAjz7U7uZPw

November 9, 2020

Department of the Navy Launches New Naval STEM Education and Outreach Program – Naval Horizons

WASHINGTON (Oct. 28, 2020) The U.S. Naval STEM team will launch the Naval Horizons challenge, a new educational video series designed to introduce viewers to cutting-edge topics impacting the Navy and Marine Corps. (U.S. Navy graphic)

On Tuesday, October 27, the Department of the Navy launched Naval Horizons, a new Naval Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) education and outreach program. It is a virtual effort designed to inspire college students by raising awareness of the real-world science and technology challenges of today. The program will introduce students to cutting-edge topics impacting the Navy and Marine Corps through online videos covering nearly 20 research areas. Students learn about naval topics by watching the videos—and submitting a report on the state of the art and a futurist vision of the Navy and Marine Corps in 2040. The first 3,000 submissions to meet the evaluation criteria will be awarded a $200 stipend.

To be eligible for the Naval Horizons program applicants must be:

Community College students
Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Majors
Must be enrolled at an accredited college/university
Must be a U.S. citizen
You must be at least 18 to apply to this program

Those interested in participating in Naval Horizons should visit https://navalhorizons.asee.org/.

Department of the Navy press release

November 2, 2020

Coast Guard Academy Minority Outreach Team (AMOT) and Academy Introduction Mission (AIM)

My name is LT Ximena Johnson and over the summer I had the opportunity to participate in the 2020 Academy Introduction Mission (AIM) as an Active Duty Partner, to provide information to high school students who expressed interest in applying to the Coast Guard Academy. My job was to provide a realistic view of the organization, the CGA, and my experience as a Hispanic female in the Coast Guard.

In each AIM week, there were approximately 65 students, divided into platoons led by a Cadre of Cadets. While attending AIM, students were able to learn about the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Academy. Normally the students would be at the Academy for one week to explore the campus and learn on-site about Academy life. However, because of the safety risks posed by COVID-19, the Coast Guard Academy Admissions Department developed a comprehensive and meticulous plan in which multiple virtual meetings were conducted via Microsoft Teams. Additionally, the AIM Cadre developed a series of high quality videos, designed to provide the students with fitness instructions, educational information about USCG history, missions, and life as a CGA cadet. I think the AIM Cadre and CGA Admissions successfully delivered useful information to the students, giving them the opportunity to learn about life in the Coast Guard, its missions, and the educational opportunities available at the CG Academy.

LT-Ximena-Johnsons-Bio Download

At a personal level, I learned a great deal about life as a cadet and about the selection process. I am still learning about many details pertaining to how future Officers from the Coast Guard Academy are selected and formed. Although being an Officer or being Enlisted depends on the “fit” of a person into either path, the Coast Guard Academy is a great option that offers a superior educational experience. During AIM week I learned that regardless of the source of commission, it is essential for active duty personnel to promote public’s awareness of the Coast Guard. It is just as important to promote all sources of entry and formation, to increase the pool of selection, and ensure we select the best quality of eligible persons. This is all to make sure that candidates have the information they need to make an educated decision that allow them to select accession options that best “fit” them. This will result in higher recruitment and retention for the service at large.

October 26, 2020