The Basic School Minority Officer Staffing 7 May 2008

Purpose 2 To identify the potential linkage between the low numbers of minority student officers desiring to serve in ground combat arms MOSs and the number of minority ground combat arms officers assigned to the staff of The Basic School.

Current Situation TBS has little impact on increasing minority officer aviator population –Historically 2 “competitive” SNA & 1 SNFO allocations per BOC –Remainder of aviation slots are pre-existing aviation contracts TBS adheres to M&RA policy in assigning MOSs for “ground-assignable” population –Assignment policy does not address minority officers –Co, TBS reviews minority officer “break-out” only after MOSs have been assigned 3

The Challenge MMOA has consistently sourced TBS with high quality minority officers; unfortunately, TBS has insufficient minority ground combat arms officers on staff to serve as role models for minority student officers at points of influence in BOC POI –Serve as Primary Instructors of ground combat arms focused training –Serve as mentors for prospective minority ground combat arms officers –Represent 03/08 communities at MOS Briefs/Mixers High quality minority CSS officers on staff may actually work “counter-grain” to efforts to attract minority student officers to ground combat arms MOSs 4

Permanent TBS Staff Demographics as of 29 Jan 08 USMC and TBS Staff Demographics * All TBS Demographic data based on race/ethnic codes derived through 3270 Black Officers: -(1) 0302 Maj -(2) 0402 Capt -(1) 3002 Capt -(1) 4402 Capt -(1) st Lt -(1) st Lt Hispanic -(1) 0302 Maj -(1) 1802 Maj 136 Total Officers USMC Active Duty Officer Demographics as of 31 Dec 07 5

Potential Solutions Re-prioritize TBS for assignment of high quality minority ground combat arms officers Obtain assistance of Division CGs/Regimental Cmdrs in early identification of high quality minority ground combat arms officers for potential follow-on assignment to TBS upon completion of first tour Amend M&RA MOS Assignment Policy to include consideration of assignment of minority officers to ground combat arms MOSs as part of the larger “needs of the Corps” 6

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