Missing in Action

The purpose of this book is to examine the subject of African American United States Army officers and their service in the combat arms branches. The research uncovered the complex roles that African American combat arms officers assumed during the past century, and how these roles evolved into their current variation that benefits from the army's unwavering commitment to equal opportunity. A historic snapshot of 20th century America's domestic tensions adequately framed the pressing issue of why African American officers currently choose to serve in the combat arms at a disproportional rate when compared with the remaining African Americans represented in the army's total officer corps. The research determined that several efforts needed to be initiated in order to mitigate the effects of this complex phenomenon. The efforts identified were associated with an improvements in institutional mentoring practices within the army, increased networking within the active army officer corps through organized support organizations partially staffed by retired army officers, and the leveraging of well established African American socio-economic institutions that weld influence in African American community. Careful consideration and deliberate application of the concluded recommendations should positively impact the proportional realignment of African American army officers serving in the combat arms and every other branch type represented in the United States Army.