By Linda Cooper Producer
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sixty years after President Truman desegregated the military, senior black officers are still rare, particularly in the highest ranks.Associated Press
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Stumble It!Blacks make up about 17 percent of the total force, yet just nine percent of all officers.
And the higher up the ranks you climb, the fewer African-Americans you find. Only one of the 38 four-star generals or admirals serving as of May was black.
One reason is career choice. Fewer blacks are choosing combat jobs that lead to the top spots.
Another is a lack of mentors. Retired Army General Johnnie Wilson is one of only 10 African-Americans who've achieved four-star rank. He says, "It's hard to tell young people the sky's the limit when they look up and don't see anyone" who looks like them.
