Should S1 database get rid of race/ethnicity as an option to select?

SFC Steven Borders — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 15:49:36 -0400

So, as an SAA, I in-process a lot of troops. I use a system called RLAS and one of things in there is race/ethnicity. I have often pondered and sometimes feel weird asking about their race/ethnicity. I think this is an archaic thing that doesn't need to be in there. What does it matter knowing someone's ethnicity? Why do we need to record this? Just how the Army is thinking about removing DA photos, why can we not get rid of this? I understand about having a religion, as if god forbid something happens to that soldier, the Army wants to make sure their remains are treated the correct way the worship. I would love to hear fellow Members thoughts. As I can't be the only one that thinks we need to revamp things.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2020 7:08 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 19:08:26 -0400

The DoD, and every branch, has diversity goals, diversity benchmarks, and diversity questions for which they are accountable.
The irony is that we cannot say that race/ethnicity and gender don't matter unless we have accurate data in the system to show how that is the case.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jun 25 at 2020 8:09 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 20:09:11 -0400

They’ll still need the info for stats, like the quarterly award reporting, but it should be masked for generic reports and SRBs

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 26 at 2020 12:01 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 12:01:39 -0400

It should go away. We always enter it wrong in the system anyways. The race should be "human". All the rest of the labels are made up, divisive nonsense.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jun 26 at 2020 1:42 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 13:42:38 -0400

I realize that it is insensitive to identify someone by their race of ethnicity in today's world, but, inappropriate as it may seem, race is an identifying trait in records and can often be an initial, obvious, non intrusive condition for determining if the person in front of you is Jones or Smith. Various races and ethnicities also have various traits valuable for identification of skeletal remains.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2020 6:29 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 18:29:55 -0400

https://www.facebook.com/ [login to see] 085792/posts/ [login to see] 031549/?d=n

That’s the plan as of 1 August.

Army Personnel HQDA ASA M&RA G-1

"Effective 1 August 2020, the requirement for officer, warrant officer and enlisted selection boards to include the DA Photo as part of the board file is suspended. Data that identifies a Soldier’s...