August 2023 - Recruiting, Retaining, and Promoting Hispanic Servicemembers

Therefore, the immediate and long-term benefits of a diverse workforce have been shown to enhance the quality of life for servicemembers and the readiness and capabilities of the force. [...] Challenges to and Strategies for Recruiting and Promoting Hispanic Servicemembers In this section, we combine evidence from our SME/PO discussions and literature review to document the recruiting and promotion challenges that the Hispanic community faces in the military. [...] Similarly, the Air Force’s HEAT meets with the Chief of Staff of the Air Force quarterly; the Navy’s COE Governance Board and DEI Council meet biannually with flag-level officers; the Army’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council is chaired by the Secretary of the Army; and the Marine Corps relies on a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Senior Advisor. [...] The prevalence of these challenges across the Hispanic community is not well understood, and further qualitative and quantitative research could establish the extent to which these challenges prevent members of the Hispanic population from joining the military. [...] SMEs/POs also mentioned that influencers in the Hispanic community might have good reason to distrust the military, and it is the job of the Services and their recruiters to assuage those concerns.