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 ...
There have only been three African Americans to ever qualify for the US Olympic swim team.
If the swimming qualification hinders "diversity", look for the SEALs to be pressured to drop the swimming qualification.
“Here’s an idea some crazy guy had in the ‘60s, just go with the best of the best and pay no attention to race, creed or religion. “
Works in the NHL.
To paraphrase Bart Simpson, “Nobody better lay a hand on my BLT.” After all, you don’t know where that hand has been. LOL! Man, that’s makin’ me hungry.
No quotas, no dropping standards, no seals wearing fake breasts and bellies simulating pregnant “seals” so the others “understand” the drawbacks of being “with child!”
You’re right, about the ratios, and I was in the Army during the early phases of Vietnam (1966)
I’d always thought it was disproportionate, but on reflection,
later realized that through basic training, I just had not been around so many blacks, and it seemed out of whack. Years later I read the actual statistics, and they supported what you just said about proportion.
“Works in the NHL.”
—
And the NBA,NFL,and MLB.
WTF?
That's an excuse, Whitey! Next you're gonna tell me they don't like snow skiing, hockey, golfing or racing too. Stop the stereo typing.
We need to start forcing minorities to ski, play hockey, golf and drive cars fast! That will make us all feel better about fairness. They'll thank us for it later! We know what's best for them!
(This is all sarcasm, attempted humor to poke fun at the absurdity. I am not racists, nor have I ever been racists. I have minority friends, etc., yadda, yadda...)
PC nonsense — Its not about Public Relations of skin color—its about getting the job done. Time to dump this outdated theory into the trash can of history. Even MLK was against Affirmative action—he reluctantly approved of it for ten years only to help Blacks get a chance in society—Not forever. It should have been cancelled in 1973.
“Putting a G in there anywhere is an insult to the BLT.”
—
Just had a BLT for lunch. Yum !
What stupidity.
If I were classified as "a minority" I would already feel stigmatized as not being as good as "the majority" or as smart as "the majority" or as overall capable as "the majority" which in this case The Times calls "a majority" of white guys in the Seals; so I would need a "hand up" to meet the job requirements.
What if my public school system in the city never had funds for a swim team and we didn't get picked to go to Fresh Air Camp in the summer? Not too many white guys or black guys coming out of that scenario thinking about becoming SEALS. ARMY RANGERS more likely.
“Maybe that guy that quit “Top Shot” last season will re-inlist.”
At first I thought that was Top Chef. I am thinking, well he would be good with knives.
Unless they’re from the West Indies, you just don’t find that many black guys that like the ocean very much.
Cold water is racist.
ROFLAO! Did you really just say that? I hope in real life your name is Chris Rock.
"...constantly pulling from the bottom of the pool."? Who the hell was throwing them in?
Brothers are not noted for their swimming abilities. Fact. Go watch swim qual at Great Lakes or either MCRD.
True. When we were stationed in SC a friend of ours was a black DI at Parris Island, he was a swim instructor/life guard. He said said they wanted black swim instructors to help blacks overcome fear and that blacks didn’t float like white folk. I had never known that.
A lot of powerfully built white guys do too.
I can sit at the bottom of the pool and wave to you with lungs full of air.
Be careful that the government’s racism doesn’t lead us into bigotry -
I’m sure there are plenty of Black guys who can swim just fine.
Maybe the “Black seals” are in the NFL? Because frankly - most Seals I met - were NFL/Div I college calibre athletes (including mental toughness) - if they were one step quicker in the 40. Maybe the Black seals are just too fleet of foot? Maybe they are all playing sports in college?
Let me know when they raise the age limit to 63.;-)
People soon learn performance doesn't matter, only quotas.
People get lazy, people stop caring, things get screwed up and things don't get done.
In this case affirmative action quotas will almost certainly get good men injured and killed.
Depends on where you live. Has nothing to do with ability per "skin color"--it has to do with opportunity in one's own environment.
See Post #64.
When I went through basic they put a black chief in charge of every flight regardless of the ethnic composition.
They were usually fired after the first week.
I appreciate what they were trying to do but essentially they set them up for failure with no coaching.
Quotas over quality. It’s the new American way.
AA applied to the Navy’s SEALs ... LOL... what could go wrong with that?
This AA crap is so sickening and frankly, I think it’s racist..
ping
Maybe the “Black seals” are in the NFL?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Maybe the “Black Seals” are in prison or on the streets on their way to prison. Maybe the “Black Seals” are felons who have served their time. I’d say that given the percentages of black men with crime issues that this greatly reduces the pool of available applicants.
Then let’s look at the academic achievement of black men. How many black men have SAT scores equal to white men being accepted to schools like Duke U.? Hm? Maybe a thousand in the entire nation? Of all the black men in this nation ( who do not have crime issues) how many can score high enough on the military entrance exam and intelligence exams to qualify to be a SEAL?
Why don’t black Americans swim?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11172054
A month ago, six African-American teenagers drowned in a single incident in Louisiana, prompting soul-searching about why so many young black Americans can’t swim.
SEAL qualifications require an ASVAB scores of GS+MC+EI=165 or VE+MK+MC+CS=220. Guys who pass BUD/S traditionally have AFQT scores of 78 or better, corresponding to a minimum IQ of 111.
“Ok men, were going into combat. Now I’d like to see the hands of those men who are here merely because of your skin color which kept significantly better men from becoming Seals. Ok, Jahmood, Demetrius and Tyrone! You’ll hit the beach first and take the maximum enemy fire.....................”
ARMY RANGERS more likely.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
My guess?
Army Rangers swim like fish.
“Maybe they are all playing sports in college?”
Maybe. But why is your feel good explanation not racist, and saying black guys can’t swim “bigoted”? You seem to be taking a stance similar to the approach liberals have, which is: If I don’t agree with it, and race is involved, you are the racist, not me.
By saying black men are faster, how is that any different than observing black men don’t swim well. Not all black men are fast, not all black men sink in water. But, generalizations come about for a reason. They are generally true.
A guy in our division tried to be a seal. He was rejected. He’s a white guy, really smart, and in great shape. I always thought, if they didn’t take him, darn, the requirements ARE tough.
Here’s another “maybe”. Maybe a lot of black kids don’t study because they don’t want to get beat up for “acting white”. So maybe their academics aren’t up to snuff? The academic requirements for a college athlete are not as demanding as that for entering the Navy Seals. And maybe that shortfall is where the generalization about black people’s intelligence gets it’s start.
LOL...actually, Rooster is my cat’s name! And he hates water!
Asshat clowns. Seriously.
There really needs to bea backlash against stupidity in this country. Stupid is destroying the country.
Actually I think we need a quota for white NBA and NFL players.
Why don’t we have the military start an all-black SEAL group.
Then we can retroactively exaggerate their accomplishments and tell everybody how much braver they are than those cowards in the white SEAL units. We could call them the “Red-Tail SEALs.”
Finally, we can make a movie about them based on the exaggerated claims.
The movie would be bases on lies and wishful thinking, but I’m sure it would be a big seller.
It's been very strongly suggested to him that he should become a SEAL. He rolls his eyes. He says he can serve his country better doing computers for the military for the next 25 years, and has no interest in crawling around in the mud and eating beetles.
When I was in the military, we did team PT and decided we’d teach the black guys on our team to swim. The encouragement just wasn’t there when they were younger to learn to swim, maybe due to cultural differences?? We started with floaties and gradually moved up to get them over the fear they had ingrained into their families of the water...When finished they were so happy to have that basic skill. Hopefully, since then they’ve encouraged their family members to learn that vital skill.
If they want more of Holder’s people, they should offer those new Nike shoes to anyone who signs up. That would cause a riot of new Seals.
Bullshit.
“”...constantly pulling from the bottom of the pool.”? Who the hell was throwing them in? “
ROFLMAO!!!
This is put out by-The TIME rag-
They hate America anyways- they are just doing their part
to spread more hate and discontent.
(by the way the black poulation is @ 13% or less-so it
looks like they are OVER represented in the SEALS!)
Setting up grounds for lowering standards again for entry into a service. From the day we started to turn the military, police and fire departments into social programs we have lowered standards that used to make those areas the best in the world. Just more of the downward spiral this country is experiencing.
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