equipment repair, and communications and intelligence, and somewhat “heavier” in functional
support and administration, craftsmen, and supply. There were also some occupational
differences between Active and Reserve officers; the Reserve Component had slightly smaller
proportions in tactical operations and engineering and maintenance but slightly larger proportions
in health care and supply. However, differences were greater between Services than between
Active and Reserve members.
Socioeconomic Status. Socioeconomic representation in the volunteer force is a key
interest because of concerns that our Nation’s defense might fall heavily on the poor and the
underclass. DoD conducts the Survey of Recruit Socioeconomic Backgrounds annually among
active duty and reserve enlisted accessions to assess this issue. Based on a summary of parents’
education, employment status, occupation, and home ownership, FY 1999 data showed that both
active and reserve recruits are primarily from families in the middle and lower middle
socioeconomic strata. The high end of the distribution was not as well represented among the
backgrounds of new recruits as in census data on parents of civilian youth ages 14–21.
U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is the smallest of the Armed Services. It is a part
of the Department of Transportation during peacetime, but during times of war it becomes a part
of the Department of Defense. Compared to the other Services, the Coast Guard is very similar
on demographic variables, with slightly greater proportions of males and Whites.
Conclusions
The FY 1999 Population Representation report shows both the diversity and the quality
of the Total Force. Men and women of various racial and ethnic groups of divergent social
backgrounds, from every state in our country, serve as Active and Selected Reserve enlisted
members and officers of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The mean
cognitive ability and educational levels of these soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen are above
the average of comparably aged U.S. citizens.
Although the force is diverse, it is not an exact replica of society as a whole. The military
way of life is more attractive to some members of society than to others. Among the enlisted
ranks, the proportion of African Americans continues to exceed comparably aged population
counts. Hispanics are underrepresented in the military, but their percentages have risen over the
years. Minorities comprise proportionally less of the officer corps; however, their representation
levels are in keeping with minority statistics among the pool of college graduates from which
second lieutenants and ensigns are drawn. Women continue to be underrepresented in the
military, compared to their proportion in civilian society. However, accession statistics show
that women continue to gain in both numerical and proportional strength.
The All Volunteer Force is now facing increased recruiting goals with low enlistment
propensity (compared to the early 1990s), ambiguous youth reactions to humanitarian and
peacekeeping missions and the pace of deployments, and budget constraints. Population
representation is often affected by such external and internal events. Thus, there is a continuing
need to track demographic changes and potential upheaval in the balance of military benefits and
burdens that befall population segments of society. Attention to human resource issues beyond
numerical representation is also necessary to manage recruiting and to promote readiness.
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................1-1
Fiscal Year 1999: Acceptance of Minorities and Women....................................1-1
Recruiting Initiatives .............................................................................................1-2
Data Sources..........................................................................................................1-3
2 ACTIVE COMPONENT ENLISTED APPLICANTS AND ACCESSIONS ........2-1
The Recruiting Process..........................................................................................2-3
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery ..........................................2-3
Educational Credentials ...................................................................................2-3
Physical Examinations.....................................................................................2-5
Moral Character Standards ..............................................................................2-5
Occupational Area Counseling ........................................................................2-6
The Delayed Entry Program (DEP) .................................................................2-6
Characteristics of Active Component Non-Prior Service Applicants ...................2-7
Characteristics of Active Component Accessions.................................................2-8
Age...................................................................................................................2-9
Race/Ethnicity................................................................................................2-10
Gender............................................................................................................2-13
Marital Status.................................................................................................2-15
Education .......................................................................................................2-15
AFQT.............................................................................................................2-19
High Quality ..................................................................................................2-21
Reading Ability..............................................................................................2-22
Geography......................................................................................................2-23
3 ACTIVE COMPONENT ENLISTED FORCE ........................................................3-1
Characteristics of Active Component Enlisted Force ...........................................3-1
Age...................................................................................................................3-1
Race/Ethnicity..................................................................................................3-3
Gender..............................................................................................................3-5
Marital Status...................................................................................................3-7
Education .........................................................................................................3-9
Representation Within Occupations ..............................................................3-11
Pay Grade.......................................................................................................3-13
xi
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Page
4 ACTIVE COMPONENT OFFICERS...............................................................................4-1
Characteristics of Active Component Officers......................................................4-2
Pay Grade.........................................................................................................4-3
Source of Commission.....................................................................................4-3
Age...................................................................................................................4-6
Race/Ethnicity..................................................................................................4-8
Gender............................................................................................................4-12
Marital Status.................................................................................................4-13
Education .......................................................................................................4-14
Representation Within Occupations ..............................................................4-15
Warrant Officers..................................................................................................4-17
5 SELECTED RESERVE ENLISTED ACCESSIONS AND
ENLISTED FORCE....................................................................................................5-1
The Selected Reserve Recruiting Process .............................................................5-2
Characteristics of Selected Reserve Accessions....................................................5-4
Age...................................................................................................................5-5
Race/Ethnicity..................................................................................................5-6
Gender..............................................................................................................5-6
Marital Status...................................................................................................5-8
Education .........................................................................................................5-8
AFQT...............................................................................................................5-9
Characteristics of the Selected Reserve Enlisted Force.........................................5-9
Age.................................................................................................................5-10
Race/Ethnicity................................................................................................5-12
Gender............................................................................................................5-13
Marital Status.................................................................................................5-13
Education .......................................................................................................5-13
Representation Within Occupations ..............................................................5-13
6 SELECTED RESERVE OFFICER ACCESSIONS AND
OFFICER CORPS.......................................................................................................6-1
Characteristics of Selected Reserve Officer Accessions and
Officer Corps .........................................................................................................6-2
Age...................................................................................................................6-2
Race/Ethnicity..................................................................................................6-2
Gender..............................................................................................................6-3
Marital Status...................................................................................................6-3
xii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Page
Source of Commission.....................................................................................6-4
Education .........................................................................................................6-6
Representation Within Occupations ................................................................6-7
7 SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OF ENLISTED ACCESSIONS ............................7-1
Socioeconomic Status in Perspective ....................................................................7-1
Defining Socioeconomic Status ............................................................................7-2
Measuring Socioeconomic Status..........................................................................7-3
Socioeconomic Status of Enlisted Accessions and Civilians ................................7-5
Family Status ...................................................................................................7-5
Education .........................................................................................................7-5
Home Ownership .............................................................................................7-7
Employment Status ..........................................................................................7-7
Occupation.......................................................................................................7-8
Socioeconomic Index Scores ...........................................................................7-9
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Socioeconomic Status...............................7-12
8 U. S. COAST GUARD ..................................................................................................8-1
Characteristics of Active Component Non-Prior Service Applicants .........................8-1
Characteristics of Active Component Non-Prior Service Accessions.........................8-2
Age ........................................................................................................................8-2
Education...............................................................................................................8-3
AFQT.....................................................................................................................8-3
Characteristics of Active Component Enlisted Force .................................................8-4
Race/Ethnicity .......................................................................................................8-4
Age ........................................................................................................................8-4
Education...............................................................................................................8-4
Representation Within Occupations ......................................................................8-5
Characteristics of Active Component Officers ...........................................................8-6
Source of Commission ..........................................................................................8-7
Educational Attainment .........................................................................................8-7
Race/Ethnicity and Gender....................................................................................8-8
Representation Within Occupations ......................................................................8-8
Warrant Officers ..........................................................................................................8-8
Characteristics of USCG Reserve Enlisted Accessions ..............................................8-9
Race/Ethnicity and Gender..................................................................................8-10
Educational Attainment .......................................................................................8-10
xiii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Page
Characteristics of Reserve Component Enlisted Force .............................................8-11
Race/Ethnicity and Gender..................................................................................8-12
Age ......................................................................................................................8-12
Educational Attainment .......................................................................................8-12
Representation Within Occupations ....................................................................8-13
Characteristics of Reserve Component Officers.......................................................8-13
Source of Commission ........................................................................................8-13
Educational Attainment .......................................................................................8-14
Representation Within Occupations ....................................................................8-14
Reserve Component Warrant Officers ......................................................................8-15
Closing....................................................................................................................... 8-16
9 THE FUTURE MILITARY .........................................................................................9-1
Serving Force XXI.......................................................................................................9-1
Recruiting Challenges and Potential............................................................................9-1
Appendix A - Active Component Applicant Tables ........................................................A-1
Appendix B - Tables: Active Component Enlisted Accessions, Enlisted
Force, Officer Accessions, and Officer Corps.................................................. B-1
Appendix C - Tables: Selected Reserve Enlisted Accessions, Enlisted
Force, Officer Accessions, and Officer Corps..................................................C-1
Appendix D - Tables: Longitudinal Data........................................................................D-1
Appendix E - Tables: Coast Guard Active Component Applicant, and
Active Component and Selected Reserve Enlisted Accessions,
Enlisted Force, Officer Accessions, and Officer Corps Tables ...................... E-1
xiv
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
List of Tables
Table Page
2.1 Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) Categories and
Corresponding Percentile Score Ranges .................................................................2-4
2.2 Race/Ethnicity and Gender of FY 1999 Active Component
NPS Applicants, by Service ................................................................................... 2-7
2.3 FY 1999 Active Component Non-Prior Service (NPS) and Prior
Service Enlisted Accessions ...................................................................................2-8
2.4 Age of FY 1999 Active Component NPS Accessions, by Service,
and Civilians 17–35 Years Old .............................................................................2-10
2.5 Race/Ethnicity and Gender of FY 1999 Active Component NPS
Accessions, by Service, and Civilians 18–24 Years Old .....................................2-11
2.6 FY 1999 Active Component NPS Accessions Who Are Married,
by Gender and Service, and Civilians 18–24 Years Old ......................................2-15
2.7 Levels of Education of FY 1999 Active Component NPS Accessions,
by Service, and Civilians 18–24 Years Old ..........................................................2-17
2.8 AFQT Scores of FY 1999 Active Component NPS Accessions, by
Gender and Service ..............................................................................................2-22
2.9 Mean Reading Grade Level of FY 1984–1999 Active Component NPS
Accessions, by Service, and 1980 Civilians 18–23 Years Old .............................2-24
2.10 Selected Statistics for FY 1999 NPS Accessions by Region, Division,
and State, and Civilians 18–24 Years Old ...........................................................2-26
3.1 FY 1999 Pay Grade of Active Component Enlisted Members,
by Service................................................................................................................3-3
3.2 FY 1999 Age of Active Component Enlisted Members, by Service,
and Civilian Labor Force 17 and Older ..................................................................3-4
3.3 FY 1999 Race/Ethnicity of Active Component Enlisted Members,
by Service, and Civilian Labor Force 18–44 Years Old .........................................3-4
3.4 FY 1999 Gender of Active Component Enlisted Members, by Service,
and Civilian Labor Force 18–44 Years Old ............................................................3-7
3.5 FY 1999 Active Component Enlisted Members Who Were Married, by
Gender and Service, and Civilian Labor Force 18–44 Years Old...........................3-9
3.6 FY 1999 Active Component Enlisted Personnel Who Were Married, and in
Dual-Service Marriages, by Gender and Service ..................................................3-10
3.7 FY 1999 Education of Active Component Enlisted Members, by Service,
and Civilian Labor Force 18–44 Years Old ..........................................................3-11
xv
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
List of Tables (continued):
Table Page
3.8 FY 1999 Occupational Areas of Active Component Enlisted Personnel by
Gender...................................................................................................................3-11
3.9 FY 1999 Occupational Areas of Active Component Enlisted Personnel
by Race/Ethnicity.................................................................................................3-13
3.10 FY 1999 Pay Grade of Active Component Enlisted Members,
by Race/Ethnicity........... .......................................................................................3-14
3.11 FY 1999 Pay Grade of Active Component Enlisted Personnel,
by Gender.............................................................................................................. 3-14
4.1 FY 1999 Active Component Officer Accessions and Officer Corps ............................4-3
4.2 FY 1999 Active Component Officer Corps, by Rank/Pay Grade and Service..............4-4
4.3 FY 1999 Source of Commission of Active Component Officer Accessions
and Officer Corps, by Service.................................................................................4-5
4.4 FY 1999 Mean Age of Active Component Officer Accessions and Officer
Corps in Comparison to Enlisted Personnel ..........................................................4-6
4.5 FY 1999 Active Component Minority Officer Accessions and Officer
Corps, by Service ...................................................................................................4-9
4.6 FY 1999 Source of Commission of Active Component Officer Accessions,
by Race/Ethnicity and Gender ..............................................................................4-10
4.7 FY 1999 Source of Commission of Active Component Officer Corps,
by Race/Ethnicity and Gender ..............................................................................4-10
4.8 FY 1999 Pay Grade of Active Component Officers, by Service and
Race/Ethnicity.......................................................................................................4-11
4.9 FY 1999 Active Component Female Officer Accessions and Officer Corps..............4-12
4.10 FY 1999 Pay Grade of Active Component Officers, by Service
and Gender ........................................................................................................... 4-13
4.11 FY 1999 Married Active Component Officer Corps and Enlisted Personnel,
by Gender.............................................................................................................. 4-13
4.12 FY 1999 Active Component Officers Who Were Married, and in
Dual-Service Marriages, by Gender and Service ..................................................4-14
4.13 FY 1999 Educational Attainment of Active Component Officer Accessions
and Officer Corps, by Service...............................................................................4-15
4.14 FY 1999 Occupational Areas of Active Component Officer Corps,
by Gender.............................................................................................................. 4-16
4.15 FY 1999 Occupational Areas of Active Component Officer Corps,
by Race/Ethnicity..................................................................................................4-17
xvi
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
List of Tables (continued):
Table Page
4.16 FY 1999 Active Component Warrant Officer Accessions and Officer
Corps, by Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Service ....................................................4-18
5.1 FY 1999 Selected Reserve Non-Prior Service (NPS) and Prior
Service Enlisted Accessions and End-Strengths.................................................... 5-5
5.2 FY 1999 Selected Reserve Non-Prior Service Enlisted Accessions,
by Age and Component, and Civilian Labor Force 17–35 Years Old ....................5-6
5.3 FY 1999 Selected Reserve Non-Prior Service and Prior Service
Enlisted Accessions, by Race/Ethnicity, and Civilians...........................................5-7
5.4 FY 1999 Selected Reserve Non-Prior Service and Prior Service
Accessions, by Gender............................................................................................5-7
5.5 FY 1999 Married Selected Reserve Non-Prior Service and Prior Service
Enlisted Accessions and Active Component Non-Prior Service
Enlisted Accessions and Enlisted Members, by Gender, and Civilians..................5-8
5.6 FY 1999 Selected Reserve Non-Prior Service Enlisted Accessions,
by Education Tier and Component, and Civilians 18–24 Years Old......................5-9
5.7 FY 1999 Selected Reserve Non-Prior Service Enlisted Accessions,
by AFQT Category, Gender, and Component.......................................................5-10
5.8 FY 1999 Selected Reserve Enlisted Members, by Age and Component,
and Civilian Labor Force Over 16 Years Old .......................................................5-11
5.9 FY 1999 Selected Reserve Enlisted Members, by Race/Ethnicity, Gender,
and Component, and Civilian Labor Force 18–49 Years Old...............................5-12
5.10 FY 1999 Selected Reserve Enlisted Members, by Gender and Component,
and Civilian Labor Force 18–49 Years Old ..........................................................5-13
5.11 FY 1999 Married Selected Reserve Enlisted Members, by Gender,
and Civilian Labor Force 18–49 Years Old ..........................................................5-13
5.12 FY 1999 Selected Reserve Enlisted Members, by Education Levels
and Component, and Civilian Labor Force 18–49 Years Old...............................5-14
5.13 Comparison of FY 1999 Reserve and Active Enlisted Occupational Areas ...............5-14
5.14 Comparison of FY 1999 Occupational Area Distribution of Enlisted
Members, by Active and Reserve Components ....................................................5-15
5.15 FY 1999 Occupational Areas of Selected Reserve Enlisted Personnel
within Race/Ethnicity............................................................................................5-16
5.16 FY 1999 Occupational Areas of Selected Reserve Enlisted Personnel,
by Gender.............................................................................................................. 5-16
xvii
