Managing Diversity in the Military: Research Perspectives from the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute

Although diversity is a twentieth-century term, the human tendency to identify the manners and morals of people different from or similar to our own is not a new issue. Today the global debate over status and rights continues among different races, genders, and cultures. As the United States enters the twenty-first century, the issue of diversity in society and in organiations is becoming more complex than ever before, and its expected increase in the near future will create new problems unless our nation's citiens prepare to cope with it now.Managing Diversity in the Military provides an introduction to diversity management and equal opportunity research in the United States military. In 24 chapters it addresses current equal opportunity and diversity issues and explores how the military is attempting to resolve them. The research presented reflects the interests of scholars from various backgrounds who use different models, approaches, and methodologies, many of which are adapted from the study of civilian institutions. The work is divided into five sections "Contemporary Approaches to Managing Diversity", "Diversifying Leadership: Equity in Evaluation and Promotion", "Gender Integration and Sexual Harassment", "Military Discipline and Race", and "Where Do We Go from Here?" which proposes future research directions for military equal opportunity and diversity management.All of the areas explored in this accessibly written volume have counterparts in the civilian sector. The book offers insights, practical methodologies, and effective management guidelines for commanders, civilian-sector executives, and human resource practitioners responsible for equal opportunity programs andoutcomes.