More Hispanics sought in military

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005 | 8:24 a.m.

Though the Defense Department has made considerable progress in increasing Hispanic representation in its military and civilian work force, much more needs to be done, a top Defense Department official said recently

According to American Forces press Service writer Rudi Williams, Clarence Johnson, principal director of the office of the deputy undersecretary of defense for equal opportunity, told an audience at a luncheon and awards ceremony hosted by Latina Style magazine that since the Defense Department began to draw down its military force in the late 1980s, Hispanic representation in the active duty military has more than doubled.

"Hispanics are now just over 9 percent of all Americans in the active duty military force and 8.5 percent of all persons serving in the National Guard and Reserves," Johnson said.

But Johnson emphasized that more progress is needed.

"Hispanics must be better represented in the leadership ranks," he said, "because we want role models for our youth and we want our military leadership to reflect the force they lead."

Johnson also pointed out that the Pentagon isn't satisfied with the number of Hispanic civilian employees in its work force.

"Our efforts have not resulted in the success we want and expect," he said. "Hispanics comprise slightly more than 6 percent of the DOD civilian work force, in comparison to almost 11 percent of the national civilian work force. This is not acceptable."

He said the Defense Department is reaching out to Hispanics, trying to convince more of them to join the military and civilian work force.

"Our presence here today is an example of that effort," he said, "and we're expanding contacts and linkages with other Hispanic organization."

Marine helps repair shelter

Marine Corps Sgt. Domiciano Bernardo III, son of Esmelita and Domiciano M. Bernardo of Las Vegas, and fellow Marines and sailors took part in a community relations project during a port visit to Dubai, United Arab Emirates while assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) homebased at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Volunteers worked at City of Hope, a women's shelter in Jumeirah. They painted hallways and performed general repair work, while some of the servicemembers played with the children staying at the home.

In brief