AZ Star. azstarnet.com http://www.azstarnet.com/public/dnews/la0785.html

Thursday, 21 January 1999

Military forces are underutilizing Hispanics, advocacy group says

WASHINGTON (AP) - Hispanics in both the uniformed military and the civilian defense work force are disproportionately represented in the lowest pay grades, with the fewest responsibilities and opportunities, an advocacy group says.
While the U.S. military enjoys the reputation as one of the most hospitable work forces for minorities in government, the situation isn't as bright for Hispanics, Raul Yzaguirre, president of the National Council of La Raza, said yesterday.
``I'm very concerned that when the president launched his race initiative, he applauded the nation's armed forces as having gotten it right. But it might not have gotten it when it comes to our community,'' said Yzaguirre, whose organization studied Latinos in defense work.
In 1996, Hispanics made up about 7 percent of active U.S. military forces and 6.3 percent of the Defense Department's civilian work force; but they represented more than 11 percent of the nation's total civilian labor force.
Additionally, more than 41 percent of enlisted Hispanics were in the lowest three pay grades, compared to 26 percent of blacks and 30 percent of whites.
Defense Department spokesman, U.S. Army Col. Richard Bridges, said: ``We understand a lack of representation exists but we have made some progress over the years. We will continue to try and be as open an organization as possible and that goes for all groups.''
Yzaguirre, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said that while military service is voluntary, the problem isn't a lack of interest on the part of Hispanics, who will surpass blacks as the nation's largest minority group in the next 11 years.
Latinos want to join both military and civilian ranks but are sometimes held back by low educational attainment and citizenship requirements for civil service employment, he said.
Yzaguirre urged increased recruiting efforts and remedial assistance for Hispanics who might not make the grade educationally.
``We are not talking about lowering standards but understanding that a high school diploma isn't the only predictor of good performance,'' Yzaguirre said.
The current findings were especially troubling in light of high Hispanic rates of military participation during the Vietnam War, Yzaguirre said.
About 25 percent of front line casualties in Vietnam were Hispanic at a time when Hispanics comprised about 5 percent of the U.S. population. Now, when Hispanics make up 11 percent of the nation's population, they make up a much smaller share of today's military force.
``We have been overrepresented in fighting forces, yet in peacetime, the armed forces don't have what it takes to recruit us,'' Yzaguirre said. ``It's an interesting paradox.''

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