This document examines factors influencing decreased participation of African Americans in Army ROTC programs, specifically at a historically black university where African American enrollment is over 98% but African American participation in ROTC is less than 20%. The author conducted a survey of 8 African American and 7 white ROTC students. Results showed African American students joined primarily for education benefits while white students wanted to serve their country/God. Both groups cited the current war as a concern. The author predicts recruitment efforts will need to improve to increase African American participation and avoid the ROTC program being shut down or moved.

1. The Winds of Change in African American Military Service A Look at Historically Black College Army ROTC Programs Prepared By: Thurman C. Reynolds HRD 880 Spring 2009

2. Abstract The purpose of this research paper is to examine the variables of service in the United States Army by African Americans, looking at the factors for decreased participation amongst Army Reserve Officer Training Corps programs in hopes of targeting new theories of practice for the recruiting market. Military recruiting has long since been an aggressive market, and has had no major issues since World War II in recruiting minority ethnic groups for service to their nation. The gap seems to lie primarily within the officer ranks of every branch of service, with the army actually being the most diverse.

3. Problem Statement At a Historical black College and University with an African American enrollment over ninety-eight percent; the contracted enrollment, meaning those that have committed to eight years total federal service, of African Americans within the Army ROTC program is at less than twenty percent of the total contracted enrollment for the entire program.

5. Introduction to the Problem Historical Overview Some of the finest Army officers were African American pioneers in the military: alumni and former cadre of this ROTC program, the first ROTC program establish at an Historical Black College in America. Once commissioning over one hundred African American Officers a year; we are currently on pace to commission less than fifteen over the next five years. Seventeen percent of the current contracted enrollment in this program is African American

12. References Central State University. (2009) CSU Army ROTC History . http://www.centralstate.edu/academics/arts_science/rotc/index.html . Wilberforce, Ohio Hayasaki, Erika, (2005, April) Military Recruiters Targeting Minority Teens . from LA Times article, 5 Arpil, 2005. http://www.nccouncilofchurches.org/areasofwork/issues/peace/recruiters_targeting_minority_teens.html Izama, Angelo, (2008, April) Uganda: U.S. Army Set to Recruit Citizens . from Daily Nation on the Web article, 6 April, 2008. http://www.nccouncilofchurches.org/areasofwork/issues/peace/recruiters_targeting_minority_teens.html Kane, Tim (2005), Demographics of Military Enlistment After 9/11. from executive memorandum 987 to The Heritage Foundation of Leadership, Pages: 1-2. Washington, DC. The Heritage Foundation. http:// www.heritage.org /press/ Kane, Tim (2005), Who bears the Burden? Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Military Recruits before and After 9/11. for The Heritage Foundation of Leadership, Pages: 1-17. Washington, DC. The Heritage Foundation. http:// www.heritage.org/research/nationalsecurity / Kane, Tim (2006), Who Are the Recruits? The Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Military Enlistment from 2003-2005. report for The Heritage Foundation Center of Data Analysis, Pages: 1-16. Washington, DC. The Heritage Foundation. http:// www.heritage.org/research/nationalsecurity / Kane, Tim (2005), CBO Weighs In on the All-Volunteer Force. from web memorandum 1561 to The Heritage Foundation of Leadership, Pages: 1-3. Washington, DC. The Heritage Foundation. http:// www.heritage.org/research/nationalsecurity / Lobe, Jim, (2008, May) RIGHTS-US: School Recruiting Could Violate Int’l Protocol. Article from the International Press Service News Agency. Rome. http:// ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews =42354 Mian, Zia, (2005, August) RIGHTS-US: U nraveling of the U.S. Military. for the Project of Present Danger and the Institute of Policy Studies. Foreign Policy in Focus. http://presentdanger.irc-online.org/pd/375 Raz, Guy, (2009, April) Drop in Black Military Recruits Coincides with War. Interview for THE NATION, reprint through National Public Radio. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10040667 SCSU ROTC (2008, October) Bulldog Battalion ROTC Briefing . for submission at Cadet Command HBCU Conference, 2008. material gathered by Professor of Military Science of Central State University. Wilberforce, Ohio