[cinFLA]

" had complained several years ago that it was difficult for a black man "to make rank" in the military."

Let's see. "several years ago" would be at least 1999. He joined in April 1998! According to the SacBee "His record idicates that he progressed up the ranks to sergeant quickly and was assigned to the Army's satellite sytems operation, an elite group in the corps".

Yesterday, it was "they hate me because I am a Muslim", today it is "they hate me because I am black". Next thing you know, they will be saying "they hate me because I am a black muslim radical.

[Mochamadness]

It is not that hard for minorities to make rank. As a platoon leader, I was the minority within my platoon leadership. Of the 10 highest ranking noncommissioned officers in my platoon one was white, one hispanic, and the rest were highly skilled, highly qualified black men. They worked hard at learning their job and learning how to lead. If you aren't willing to learn and take the necessary steps to earn the right to lead soldiers, then you won't make rank. My soldiers were the cream of the crop, both technically and tactically, in my opinion.