Military, Pentagon Lack for Latinos, Study Finds

WASHINGTON — Despite their growing numbers in the U.S. population, Latinos are vastly underrepresented in the military and in the civilian defense work force, and the Pentagon should step up efforts to recruit and retain them, a Latino civil rights organization said in a study released Wednesday.

The group, the National Council of La Raza, found that Latinos often are not given the chance to join the military and miss out on education opportunities and job skills that, for many, have been a traditional avenue to success. And those who do join the military are disproportionately concentrated in the lowest pay grades, with few chances for advancement, the report said.

“The report confirms what has been a continuing source of frustration to the Hispanic community: [Latinos’] historic underrepresentation--save for times of war--in the U.S. military,” said Raul Yzaguirre, La Raza president.

In 1996, the last year of the 10-year study, Latinos accounted for 6.9% of active-duty personnel while they made up 11.2% of the total civilian work force, the report found.

Officials at the Pentagon said they are working to bolster military recruitment in Latino communities and cited a $4-million ad campaign run last year by the Army and the Army Reserve that targeted Latino youth in several cities, including Sacramento.

The report offered general recommendations for remedying the situation, including finding more ways to recruit Latinos.

In the Marine Corps, where Latinos make up 11% of the enlistees--more than any other military branch--close working relations with Latino activist groups like La Raza have helped their recruitment efforts, officials said.