US Military Black Service Members – Past and Present

In 1948, President Truman signed Executive Order #9981 that officially ended segregation in the military, and declared “equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the Armed Services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin”. Since that time, the percentage of Blacks serving in the United States Military Services has increased significantly. As of FY09 {fiscal year 2009}, Black Soldiers comprised approximately 20% of the active-duty Army, 13% of the Army National Guard, and 22% of the Army Reserve.

Although there are not recruitment goals for racial/ethnic groups, the Army has maintained a force representative of our Nation’s diversity, reflecting a belief that all American citizens have equal obligation to provide for the national defense. With the end of the military draft and the beginning of the All Volunteer Force (AVF) in 1973, there was concern that social representation, especially with regard to race, would not be maintained.