Evening star., 1949-10-01
INEQUALITIES
Treatment Of
Negro Units
Five-Point Program
Also Ends Disparity
In Opportunities

The Army is instituting a five
point program to assure equal
treatment and opportunity to all
personnel without regard to race
or color, but it does not plan to
disband its existing all-Negro
units.
Army Secretary Gray, in an
nouncing the new program last
night, said that qualified
Negroes, including those in exist
ing units, will have the opportun-
tiy to learn those skills previously
unavailable to them.
Hereafter, Negroes who &C
quire skills will be assigned to
positions where their specialities
may be applied in the manner
most useful to the Army" he said.
Mr.. Gray declared the Army
was continuing its study of the
present policy of regulating Negro
original enlistments, now based on
the population ratio of Negroes
to the total population-currently
about 10 per cent.
Approved by Johnson.
Defense Secretary johnson.
who turned down an earlier racial
program proposed by the Army.
approved the latest version. He
previously sanctioned changes by
the Navy and Air Force. BotE
those services follow the policy
of scattering Negro personnel
throughout their ranks, and the
Air Force recently broke up a
special Negro squadron it had
maintained over long period.
Secretary Gray said the Army
now is taking these steps:
/. The opening Of military oc-
cupational specialties to all quali-
fed personnel. Heretofore, Me-
groes have been restricted to a
few of the specialties.
2. The present Negro quotas for
selection to attend Army schools
will be abolished, and selection
will be made from the best quail
fed personnel without regard to
race or color,
Merit Promotions.
3. The promotion system of the
enlisted career guidance program
will be administered on an equal
basis so that all promotions will
be obtained by open competition
on Army wide examinations.
against a single standard and
without regard to race or color.
4. Reserve Officer Training
Corps students attending summer
training camps as members Of
school units to which they are
regularly assigned will be trained
with these units without regard to
race or color.
S. A board of senior officers
will be convened from time to
time to determine current prog
ress under the program and to re-
examine and review the funda-
mental policies for the use OF
Negro manpower in the light Of
changing conditions and expert
ences. The first board will meet
soon.
Army-Wide Competition.
Heretofore, Negroes were Sc
lected to attend schools on the
basis OF Negro distribution in the
Army. and they competed for pro-
motion only among themselves.
Now all nom commissioned officers
will compete for promotion on an
Army wide equal merit basis
against a single standard, without
regard to race or color.
Under the old policy. Negro
ROTC students attending summer
camps were placed in Negro units
for training. Now all will be
trained together.
Army policies concerning use OF
Negro manpower were based on
the recommendations of a board
headed by 1t. Gen. A. c. Gillem.
which made its report in 1916 and
itself recommended a periodic re-
view. Mr.. Gray pointed out. The
Gillem board held that the best
use of Negro manpower in the
postwar Army was to have units
stated and manned by Negroes
but do away with complete divi-
90 ~f &h0y>a