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You posted: It's not fair to black kids - kids probably at the top of their high school classes and proud of their accomplishments - ready to conquer the world, filled with joy... Then sent off to ‘compete’ with elite kids who had every advantage in the world from the day they were born. It's not kind or fair or good... it's dreadful.

Spot on!

Years ago I served as an officer recruiter. I learned a couple of hard lessons during that time.

Key was that if I had a very marginal black or Hispanic candidate I could probably have success in getting them selected.

However, when they hit the “fleet” they were up against the kids you refer too. Really top quality across the board and how the heck do you compete with that? It was tough enough for me and I think I am rather smart.

Bottom line, who =does the skipper give the keys to the (chose one) (1) airplane; (2) boat or (3) any other key position. Right the highly qualified dude and if you are the token then you lose cadet!

So our candidate goes back to their community after four or five years and can only talk about how you can't get a break in the service.

My point is that there are a lot of terrific non-white folks in the military. Just don't force the issue. Let them bubble up from the ranks and the quality will always float to the top.

Then you skim the cream and this is the cadre that will go back to their community and tell a very positive story about serving in the military.

Sorry to rant, but, this article and your comment just hit an emotional nerve.