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Seeking Advice on Military Careers for AA
've been trying to search the internet for awhile now and haven't found anything about this issue of asian-americans in the US military. it affects me because it's a big decision for me to decide if this is the career route that i want to take after graduation from college very shortly now. in particular, i'm wondering what support networks are out there because there're simply very few asians in the military? can the site editors start an advice or issues discussion thread on this topic or are there others out there that can share their experience? in particular, there are two options for me, either to get a high profile officer position or to go with my more prefered medic who's sworn to help save lives. i guess i'm worried about discrimination if anybody has any insights? thanks.
asians in the military?
Sunday, April 21, 2002 at 13:28:33 (PDT)
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YOUR ADVICE
I am serving in the US Air Force with a TACP unit in GA. I've served for over ten years now and have never experienced any overt discrimination towards me at all. Perhaps I've been lucky, but this seems to be true across the board. I've had every opportunity to do whatever I wanted to accomplish in the Air Force. The military is a different animal in that teamwork is vital by nature. People can die if the team fails. So there really is no time for petty bigotry and discrimination when things must be done right and rapidly. Plus, there are many situations where people of any origin, background or whathaveyou can shine and many military members see this for what it is: individual determination. This isn't to say discrimination does not exist, but that it is very low and low-key where it does exist. BTW, we've had three AA in my unit at one time, one was a LTC. Not a trace of discrimination either way. We are all Air Force Blue. If you have any other questions or are curious as to why I'm an Air Force guy on an Army post, drop me a line and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions.
AF Guy Rich
afpuckster@hotmail.com
Monday, June 03, 2002 at 06:08:54 (PDT)
Apparently you aren't aware that Gen. Eric Shinseki, Kauai, Hawaii, is the current Army Chief of Staff; i.e., commanding general of the US Army. Scuttlebut is that he may become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is second in command of all the US military only to the President.
My brother is an E-9 in the Hawaii Air National Guard, one of the top 3 enlisted men. One of my neighbors retired as an Army Major, and he court-martialed men in Europe with no apparent backlash.
My brother told me that as far back as 1968, there was soy sauce on all the tables at Lackland Air Force Base, the Air Force's basic training base. When I rode Navy carriers as a civilian engineer, I found there were bottles of soy sauce on all the tables.
I also worked with a Filipino E-6 Navy Electronics Technician, who supervised our white sailors with no problem. He boasted that he was a "Four O" sailor, meaning that he had a perfect record of "outstanding" on all his evaluations.
Probably very few people have ever heard that retired Vice Admiral Kihune, former commander of all US Navy surface forces in the Pacific, was a Hawaiian. The US military is perhaps the only American institution where a minority (males, at least) can rise to the very highest ranks without hitting a "glass ceiling."
W T Kamaura
Friday, May 24, 2002 at 02:40:52 (PDT)
I currently serve in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as an Infantry Officer in a Rifle Company. I have served in the Guard since 1992 and spent 2 years in the Regular (full time) Army after I was commissioned as an officer in 1998 with the 10th Mountain Division. I didn't have any problems on active duty. There weren't many AA officers or enlisted in the Infantry, but there were a lot of HAPAs. In my Guard unit, there are only 2 AA officers and the other is the Medical Officer. But the two of us are often confused by the enlisted ranks (and 1 officer) even though I'm taller, darker, and girthier then he is. Drop me an e-mail for any specific questions that you may have.
1LT Tran W-C
tcunnane73@hotmail.com
Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 04:40:21 (PDT)
I served in the Canadian Army for
five years from 1986 to 1991. discharged with the rank of Master
Corporal ( comparable to U.S sgt-at least in terms of duties and responsibilities.) My MOS was Airborne Light Infantry {paratrooper but more comparable to 75th Ranger
Regiment then 82nd} and my unit was [past tense after Somalia inquiry my regiment was disbanded] the
Canadian Airborne Regiment more specifically 2 Airborne Commando.
In the Canadian military minorities makeup less than 1% of the entire combined air, land, and naval
personel. Being of korean extraction and opting to join
{back then} an 'elite' force like 2 Commando with a philosophy of the "uberman" it was quite a test in self discipline and control in the face of "good ole boy mindset". One must understand that in Canada tolerence for racial harmony only usually exists in the large urban areas but in ultra conservative institutions ie. military, lipservice is the norm. I agree with AC Dropout that being asian often results in a psychological pressure to work harder or{ in my case to be more crazy, ruthless, or tougher} to get the respect and recognition as a good soldier. However, the military is also the ideal institution to dispel negative stereotypes of the asian man through competion and outperforming your fellow biased soldiers. Being an Airborne Commando allowed me to demonstrate firsthand to wm and bm
"asian empowerment" at the base and primal level.....a level I believe is very necessary for asian man to possess confidence and belonging in North America. Ultimately, I found
the military a rewarding and {minus the racists} life changing experience.
I highly recommend AA males interested in the military to sign-up be it in Canada or the USA....especially in the elite units .
latina loving korean hombre
Friday, May 17, 2002 at 19:43:31 (PDT)
I am a 29 year old Chinese American. I have served in the Marine Reserves, National Guard, and Active Army. I have also served in both enlisted and officer ranks. I would be glad to share my opinions with anyone considering service with the U.S. military.
Eric
ericsheen@earthlink.net
Friday, May 17, 2002 at 19:33:38 (PDT)
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