Adrian Interview (SFC, male, 20 years)
Jamar: RQ1: How do African American Senior Non-Commissioned Officers described the experiences they felt concerning ethnic conflicts?
Adrian: Seniors NCOs describe their ethnic conflicts as not being hard and understanding that things are just the way that they are.
Jamar: Tell me about any of your experiences concerning ethnic conflict during your military service. Please describe one ethnic conflict that you experienced which stands our more than any other. How did you resolve this conflict?
Adrian: I recall a 1SG within an Army recruiting battalion taking over a battalion that was failing. He immediately affected change within the organization. However, certain NCOS in the company did not like the fact he was holding Soldiers accountable for their actions . They created a plan to get that 1SG out of responsibility. It started with EO complaints about him not liking certain ethic or gender groups which were all shot down because it was no evidence and ended
With a SHARP complaint which held no weight. It was a he say/she say investigation with no real proofs. It was 4 NCOs saying he did say something and 2 NCOs who
Said he didn’t. Of course, the 4 NCOs were NCOs who were failing miserably in recruiting. The investigation was found substantiated and the 1SG and CDR was removed.
Jamar: How did any ethnic conflict impact your service in the military?
Adrian: The ethic conflict in the Army just made me precede with caution when dealing with certain individual and be mindful of perception within the Army.
Jamar: Describe the most common patterns of ethnic conflicts you may have observed during your service in the U.S. Army.
Adrian: The most common patterns of ethic conflict in the Army were stereotypes that were created by different ethic groups .
Jamar: How do the institutional factors contribute to ethnic conflicts within the U.S. Army?
Adrian: The institutional factor that was raised were mostly cultural because Soldiers in the Army come all walks of life before entering the Army.
Jamar: RQ2: How do African American Senior Non-Commissioned Officers describe the racial concerns within the U.S. Army?
Adrian: There are many rules and regulation that are changing now that African Americans benefit from. I don’t see much racial concerns in the US Army itself, just a few leaders who don’t live by the Army values.
Jamar: Describe the racial concerns you experienced within the U.S. Army.
Adrian: I haven’t had many concerns. Maybe because I look at things different and from a Christian perspective.
Jamar: What efforts have been made to diversify the ranks of Senior Non-Commissioned Officers?
Adrian: Personally haven’t seen any beside the changes in the regulations.
Jamar: What are your perceptions of minority discrimination in the U.S. Army?
Adrian: There is a lot of minority discrimination in the US Army. I don’t believe that it will ever change.
Jamar: RQ3: How do African American Senior Non-Commissioned Officers describe their involvement in leadership positions within the U.S. Army?
Adrian: Many African American serve in the support MOS roles versus combat roles. I believe this is also a reflection of the level of respect given.
Jamar: Describe your involvement in leadership positions within the U.S. Army?
Adrian: My leadership positions in the Army consist of Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant , Section NCOIC, Station Commander. I have been responsible for up to 50 Soldiers at one time all different races and cultures.
Jamar: What requirements are necessary to curb ethnic conflicts within the U.S. Army?
Adrian: Requirements first should be to change the entire investigation process in the Army. It is extremely flawed and how will you really catch discriminatory practices \
If you have a flawed system.
Jamar: What leadership appointment and promotion barriers do African Americans face in the U.S. Army? How could these barriers be mitigated?
Adrian: I have seen more African Americans be promotion in the last 5 years then I have in my entire career. I believe the Army got this change right and I believe these changes will help combat ethnic conflict and break barriers.
