His View
A U.S. Military Service Career
By F. Michael Sena
Iam optimistic about the state of Hispanics
in the U.S. military, and across the Defense
Department’s total force. Throughout history,
Hispanics have demonstrated great courage
in military conflicts, dating back to the
American Revolutionary War, when General
Bernardo de Galvez assisted General
George Washington in the American colonists’
fight for independence.1
From the Revolutionary War to present-day missions around
the world, Hispanic Americans have served and continue to serve
with honor, valor and integrity to uphold the ideals of freedom,
liberty and justice. These contributions are evident in the
service of 60 Hispanic heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice
and were awarded the United States Military Medal of Honor.2
Hispanic Americans continue to be integral to U.S. military
fortitude. Today, one in every seven active duty Service members is
of Hispanic descent. Within the Defense Department’s civilian
workforce, Hispanics represent one in every 15 civilians. Among
our military women, the number of Hispanic active-duty service
women has increased by 38.7 percent since 2012.
Our nation’s military is a well-educated force and more educated
than the population it serves.3 Expanding one’s educational
aperture is fundamental to success and is the foundation for
professional growth and socioeconomic advancement. A
highly-educated and diverse populous leads to creativity, innovation,
economic growth, and enhances national security.
According to a 2016 Nielsen study, “Latinas have made the
most dramatic gains in education, as college enrollment rates
among female Hispanics graduating from high school now outpace
both non-Hispanic whites and African-Americans.” The National
Center for Education Statistics reports that, of Latinas who
graduated high school in 2012-2014, 74 percent are now enrolled
in college. The Nielsen study further states, “The higher education
level is helping drive positive economic results, including rising
household income and greater household expenditures.” 4
A military service career can serve as a stepping stone in the
development of leadership competencies and help in achieving higher
education goals needed to compete in today’s global economy.
Although the number of Hispanics serving within the Department
is growing, there is room for improvement, particularly among the
officer corps and among civilian senior leadership positions.
I am optimistic that with projected demographic trends and
increases of Hispanics in colleges, Hispanic representation will
continue to improve across the Defense Department, including
more Hispanics in leadership roles. To become more competitive
for leadership positions, however, Hispanics must continue to
pursue career opportunities and expand their education, competencies
and skill sets. They need to seek out, as well as become mentors
and sponsors in an effort to grow our future leaders.
Furthermore, maintaining a competitive science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce is critical to
our national security. Within the Defense Department, Hispanics
lag among other demographic groups in these career fields. As
a nation, we must continue to encourage our youth to pursue
higher education in the STEM fields.
By promoting the virtues of hard work, education, and
awareness of public service, including military service, together
we can enhance the state of all Americans.
LS
F. Michael Sena is the Deputy Director at the Office of Diversity
Management and Equal Opportunity, Office of the Under Secretary
of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) (USD (P&R), Department
of Defense (DoD). Prior to his current assignment he served as
the Director of External and Internal Relations for Office of the
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Civilian Personnel Policy,
USD (P&R). Sena has more than 32 years of experience in
human resources (with emphasis on labor relations, employee
relations, classification and equal employment opportunity) and
diversity and inclusion management.
1) http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/reports/17.3.pdf
2) http://hispanicmedalofhonorsociety.org/
3) https://www.facethefactsusa.org/facts/tanks-and-humvees-caps-and-gowns
4) http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2016/hispanic-influencereaches
new-heights-in-the-us.html
46 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 23, No. 6, 2017