Posted on 02/24/2012 9:15:25 AM PST by lex33
In nature, most seals are black, with relatively few white ones. The Navy's SEALs have exactly the opposite problem -- they're overwhelmingly white, with hardly any blacks. So they're trying to do something about it. It's a fundamental challenge in a democracy with an all-volunteer force: recruits may be drawn from all segments of society, but elite military units -- and none is more elite these days than the SEALs, following their dispatch of Osama bin Laden last May -- tend to draw from small pools of talent. For the SEALs, that includes athletic young men who are smart and good in the water. For whatever reason, that has led to an overwhelmingly white SEAL force. (PHOTOS: Navy SEALs in Action) Say the SEALs: Gaps exist in minority representation in both officer and enlisted ranks for Special Warfare operators. Diverse officers represent only ten percent of the officer pool (for example, African Americans represent less than 2% of SEAL officers). Diverse enlisted SEALs account for less than twenty percent of the total SEAL enlisted population. Naval Special Warfare is committed to fielding a force that represents the demographics of the nation it serves. This contract initiative seeks effective strategies to introduce high potential candidates from diverse backgrounds to the opportunities available in Naval Special Warfare. (PHOTOS: A History of Special Ops) The SEALs are considering hiring help to attract thousands of "minority males in the 16–24 year-old target age range" to become SEALs. "This contract will create a mechanism to enhance Naval Special Warfare's ability to conduct outreach, raise awareness, mentor, and increase self-selection to a career as a SEAL within minority communities," a recently-posted draft contract solicitation says. The Navy isn't seeking only black SEALs: "Challenges for minority recruitment also exist in the Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander (API), Native
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
That mean half of them will be women? Shades of Demi Moore!
Oh, Goody Gumdrops!!!!!
Now the best people we have in defense of our country are in the midst of affirmative action hiring!!!
Didn’t we learn with the current occupant of the Oval office????
SEALs should be rejected if they are democrats...
A democrat, any democrat, is an enemy of the United States Constitution..
They have proved this for at least fifty years..
Democrats do not have a moral compass..
The democrat party has been one with the American Communist party now (and/or related groups) for many years..
The nitwit who quit Top Shot was an arrogant self-centered, non-team player. Maybe his lack of ability to get along with other team members was the reason why he was a “former” Seal.
[ Who’s “brilliant” idea was this? Whoever it was should be fired. ]
Well Duuugh.. its black history month...
You know... affirmative action History..
A black Seal Team would look like a RAP group..
Gold Teeth, Flavor Flav doo-dahs, baggy pants.. the whole works..
PimPed-out Uniforms even.. something to be proud of /s...
If it ain’t broke, DON’T fix it.
The SEALs are the best of the best, DON’T tamper.
One more thing for Obama to f*** up if he gets four more years.
Participation is VOLUNTARY. You can quit at any time (called “DOR” — drop on request). Again, participation in these elite units is VOLUNTARY, and they only accept the best of the very best. It is that simple.
When I was at Coronado, I watched the BUD/S classes of UDT/SEAL trainees [1970-1971] going through their first phase training. After first phase, there was Underwater Swimmer (phase two), followed by Land Warfare (phase three). All totaled, the training phases take nearly a year and selection is relentless. Selection does not stop on assignment to an active SEAL team. New SEALs are on probation for a minimum of six months after they deploy with an active team to see how well they integrate with the other members. Even at this late date, you can be dropped as a SEAL.
Having known a few, and having watched numerous programs involving BUD/s training, I can say that all SEAL-candidates are super-fit, but few are 'freakish' in height or weight categories. So I would argue that most would not be Div I/NFL. These guys would be Div II football, no problem. Given the above average intellect required I'd say Ivy League footballers would be a more apt description. But even that misses the point.
These guys can swim or run all day long... until they break down. That requires the kind of mental toughness required of a tri-athlete.
Translation: Obama DOD orders diversity quotas in Spec Ops..
RE Post #92 -
There are so many jokes there just waiting for some racists to spout on about.
Not of fan of the blacksheep squadron I take it?
All the history I read suggests it was a very accomplished escort unit that lost no charges to enemy fire.
Is it all lies?
Ahh, see that? Proof is in the puding. That is a smart kid.
Anyhoo, she said that for the most part the "young, athletic guys" had the most trouble with her class. They "sink like lead bricks" - a direct quote.
Students who had the easiest time? Women, say age 25-40. When I asked, "Why", she said "It's because fat floats." - again, a direct quote.
It is a cultural thing, and it can be overcome. But probably not to a point that you could take your superior black-athlete, non-swimmer, and get him ready for SEAL/BUDS. It's not just about getting a person to learn to swim to pass the swim test. It's about 'comfort' in the water. That starts from being exposed as a kid.
The stuff that they do to you in the pool at BUDS is designed to freak you out. You have to be super-comfortable in the water to overcome your basic instinct... to KNOW that you can recover that regulator. I've had a small dose of it in advanced civilian SCUBA training. And that bar is set low compared to what these guys do.
Joining the military is voluntary. Whoever backs this initiative - either military or civilian - is a racist POS and belongs in the infernal regions of the earth. Defending our country should only be based upon ability!
There were studies done in the ‘60s (back when results were based on science and not politics) and it showed subtle physical difference between people of African ancestry and people of Eurasian ancestry. Differences in muscle structure and in fat distribution made people of African ancestry better runners but poorer swimmers. That’s why they excel in the Olympic running events but not in the Olympic swimming events.
How many of today’s SEALs do not have any background in competitive swimming or water polo? How black American males do have such a background?
When they wash out of the SEALS, they can always become Army Rangers.
If we allow this to occur, I think we should also demand diversity in sports!
Well, I wasn’t a navy seal, but I did have 99 AFQT ;p
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