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African American History Month

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

What is it?

February is African American History Month, a time during which the United States Army honors the numerous contributions made by African-Americans.

The Army values the important contributions of African-American Soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians. The theme of 2017 African American History Month is “The Crisis in Black Education.”

The theme emphasizes that African-American history is rich in centuries-old efforts of resistance to the education crisis: the slaves’ surreptitious endeavors to learn, the rise of black colleges and universities after the Civil War, unrelenting battles in the courts over education opportunities for African-Americans, the black history movement, the freedom schools of the 1960s and mentorship programs that inspire a love of learning.

What is the Army doing?

America’s Army remains highly capable and mission ready by leveraging the strengths of a diverse, all-volunteer force that includes more than 103,000 African-American Soldiers.

The Army finds its strength not only in its diversity but also in its ability to weave together people of different faiths, cultures and races who share common values like duty, honor, selfless service, loyalty and respect.

The Army’s education system supports all Soldiers in their efforts to become highly educated in order to build a better future for themselves, thus strengthening the Army and ultimately the nation in the process.

The Army values the important contributions of African-American Soldiers and DA Civilians.

What continued efforts are planned for the future?

The Army will highlight and honor African-American military and civil service at all levels by telling their stories through command information channels at all levels.

The Army will continue to strongly embrace diversity as a way to create a system that maximizes individual talents, increases morale and greatly enhances military effectiveness – regardless of race, creed or color.

Army leaders will continue to sustain force capability by properly seeking out, accessing, developing and fully utilizing the individual talents and backgrounds of the Soldiers who help make the U.S. Army the premiere fighting force in the world.

Why is this important to the Army?

The Army strongly embraces diversity as a way to create a system that maximizes individual talents, increases morale and greatly enhances military effectiveness – regardless of race, creed or color.

All Army personnel and their Families are valued members of the Army team, and their contributions continue to be vital to the Army’s success and history, while building America’s future.

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