Froehlke, Robert F. "Army Policy: Secretary of the Army."
Commander's Digest. Vol. 12, no. 2. Washington, D.C. GPO, May 18, 1972. P. 6.
SuDoc No.: D2.15/2
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Army Policy: Secretary of the Army
Robert F. Froehlke
- As the Secretary of the Army, I want equal opportunity for all, and I expect everyone in
the Army to follow that policy.
- We have done it in the past and we are going to do it in the future: communicate the policy,
make sure the policy is followed, and where it is not, move fast and harshly to correct
discrimination.
- You do not change people's attitudes overnight. But we have to work on it as fast as we
can. I believe that in the Army we are aware that we must change... And where we can change
things overnight, we are.
- For instance, my predecessor, Secretary Stanley R. Resor, turned out a directive which
allows commanders in the field to declare off-limits those establishments, those housing units,
which practice racial discrimination. This is very clear evidence that we are doing something,
and I think it is one of the most significant steps we have taken.
- We in the Army do not want to do business with any individual or group of individuals who
practice racial discrimination.
- I am sure there are cases of racial discrimination in the Services where no action is
taking place because people in authority do not know about them.
However, one thing is very clear – the Army's policy is that wherever we find racial
discrimination we will take action to correct it.
- We must do a better job, both in the civilian sector and in the military sector, in getting
minority groups represented in the higher ranks.
- We are a long way from perfect... But I do feel strongly that for years the military has
led in this area. We have a long way to go, but statistical trends show that we are going in
the right direction.
- We in the Army are looking for topnotch blacks, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, who can
be promoted through the noncommissioned ranks. We are looking for the minority-group member
who can become a second lieutenant and eventually rise to becoming a general. The opportunities
are unlimited.
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