The U. S. Army Officer Corps: Changing With the Times - Black Officers, Diversity Issues, Pre and Post-Vietnam, Officer Personnel Management System (OPMS), Career Field Designation (CFD)

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. What types of officers does the U. S. Army need to sustain the force, lead, manage resources, procure the best possible supplies and equipment, and operate in the field in the 21st Century? From 1940s to the present, the U. S. Army officer ranks have confronted several difficult issues and complex changes. This SRP examines characteristics of the U. S. Army Officer Corps from past to present. It describes the diversity of the current officer corps, compares the pre-and post-Vietnam officer corps' and assesses effects of the post-Vietnam War drawdown. It traces development of Officer Personnel Management System (OPMS) XXI and the newly developed Career Field Designation (CFD) system. It describes the impact these changes have made on the promotion system and selection to senior level schools. It concludes with recommendations for selection of future Army officers.

U. S. Army Officers possess strong values, leadership skills, and a "follow me" leadership attitude. However, the Army officer corps has endured many challenges and changes over the years. Although many may believe that progress has come slowly in some areas, evolutionary change in selection, promotion, and retention of officers has strengthened the Army and produced better leaders over time. As with any large successful organization, the Army has adapted to changing circumstances in order to develop today's effective officer corps. This SRP analyses the evolution of the Army officer corps by tracing the historical development of the current corps. It then projects how future challenges may require further evolution of the corps and concludes with recommendations for selecting the right officers to meet these challenges.

Before we look ahead, we should first consider the historical background from which the current Army officer corps emerged. In terms of race, gender, and social class, the current diverse officer corps began to emerge in the mid-1940s. Immediately following the Allied victory in World War II, President Harry S. Truman and the War Department (later known as Department of Defense [DOD]) leaders assured that qualified minorities would integrate into the officer corps. This initiative paved the way for several minority officers to enjoy distinguished military careers.