I hope it is less racist, the black power mentality was dominate in the early 70s among the NCOs, and the black ranks openly reflected black militancy.
In AIT I saw a black power wrist band wearing, non-haircut getting soldier with the banned afro-comb, wearing boots that he refused to shine, and all the other things that a washout does, (shirt tail, slouching, hands in pockets, attitude, no leadership, lazy, hostile), when he needs to be cycled out of the military, win soldier of the month.
The man was chosen by his black NCOs over not only the white soldiers, including THE obvious choice, but over a couple of very good black soldiers who were in the running, but who weren’t militants. I doubt that he made it through his enlistment, but he will always be ‘soldier of the month’ for that cycle, it was the clearest race message that I have ever seen within an institution.
Great great post, more of you guys that put up with that B/S should be heard. Cassius Clay, Jane Fonda and John Kerry did their level best to destroy the institution too.