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Navy Seeking More Minority SEALs
Time Magazine ^ | February 24, 2012 | Mark Thompson

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
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To: Travis McGee

ping


81 posted on 02/24/2012 10:01:17 AM PST by panaxanax (0bama >>WORST PRESIDENT EVER.)
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To: Eldon Tyrell

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?


82 posted on 02/24/2012 10:01:17 AM PST by wintertime (Reforming a government K-12 school is like reforming an abortion center.)
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To: fight_truth_decay
Environment doesn't explain it in areas with lots of blacks and places to swim everywhere. They still don't swim, even at the beach.
83 posted on 02/24/2012 10:01:17 AM PST by Beagle8U (Free Republic -- One stop shopping ....... It's the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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To: Irenic

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.


84 posted on 02/24/2012 10:01:32 AM PST by TSgt (Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.)
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To: douginthearmy
Any young athletic black man who is smart enough to be a SEAL (I think its 110 ASVAB) can win a full scholarship to practically any university in the country.

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.

85 posted on 02/24/2012 10:02:08 AM PST by PapaBear3625 (In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell)
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To: lex33

“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.....................”


86 posted on 02/24/2012 10:05:44 AM PST by Doc Savage ("I've shot people I like a lot more,...for a lot less!" Raylan Givins)
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To: fight_truth_decay

ARMY RANGERS more likely.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

My guess?

Army Rangers swim like fish.


87 posted on 02/24/2012 10:06:14 AM PST by wintertime (Reforming a government K-12 school is like reforming an abortion center.)
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To: Eldon Tyrell

“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.


88 posted on 02/24/2012 10:06:36 AM PST by brownsfan (Aldous Huxley and Mike Judge were right.)
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To: fight_truth_decay

LOL...actually, Rooster is my cat’s name! And he hates water!


89 posted on 02/24/2012 10:08:11 AM PST by RoosterRedux (Go Newt!)
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To: lex33

Asshat clowns. Seriously.

There really needs to bea backlash against stupidity in this country. Stupid is destroying the country.


90 posted on 02/24/2012 10:08:19 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Nifster

Actually I think we need a quota for white NBA and NFL players.


91 posted on 02/24/2012 10:09:08 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: lex33

92 posted on 02/24/2012 10:09:08 AM PST by the_devils_advocate_666
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To: All

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.


93 posted on 02/24/2012 10:10:23 AM PST by zipper (espions sur les occupants)
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To: lex33
I know a wonderful young black boy man who will be entering the US Naval Academy this fall. Fantastic kid--I've known him since he was six. Strong Christian family, great student, great athlete, brilliant, funny, kind, determined. Very patriotic and wants to serve his country, as the children of hard-working (LEGAL) immigrants so often are. He's my son's lifelong best friend.

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.

94 posted on 02/24/2012 10:16:34 AM PST by ottbmare (The OTTB Mare)
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To: brownsfan

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.


95 posted on 02/24/2012 10:16:57 AM PST by sandboxshooter (Iraq, Afghanistan, War)
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To: lex33

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.


96 posted on 02/24/2012 10:17:21 AM PST by Jack Burton007 (This is Jack Burton in the Pork Chop Express, and I'm talkin' to whoever's listenin' out there.)
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To: lex33
In nature, most seals are black....

Bullshit.

97 posted on 02/24/2012 10:18:00 AM PST by gundog (Help us, Nairobi-Wan Kenobi...you're our only hope.)
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To: Tenacious 1

“”...constantly pulling from the bottom of the pool.”? Who the hell was throwing them in? “

ROFLMAO!!!


98 posted on 02/24/2012 10:18:36 AM PST by CodeToad (NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!!)
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To: Secret Agent Man

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!)


99 posted on 02/24/2012 10:19:30 AM PST by mj1234
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To: lex33

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.


100 posted on 02/24/2012 10:19:52 AM PST by JayAr36
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