The number of minority applicants to the U.S. Naval Academy is up this year, but recruiters say more needs to be done to improve diversity.
Minorities will make up 24 percent of the incoming plebe class that was inducted Wednesday ? a slight increase over last year.
“We?re expecting to bring in our third-most diverse plebe class in the history of the academy,” Naval Academy Dean of Admissions Bruce Latta said.
But recruitment efforts continue to struggle, especially in some inner cities, including Baltimore. Negative views of the Iraq war have deterred minority students, and poor education is keeping some from qualifying, recruiting officials said.
“One recruiting district in New York had 44 minority applicants, and zero were admitted from that group,” said retired Navy Capt. Bill Rentz, chairman of the Naval Academy Alumni Association?s admissions committee. “That makes no sense, and that?s true in some cities.”
The concern was illustrated during a Board of Visitors meeting earlier this month when Latta told officials about the disparity between the number of minority officers ? 17.6 percent ? and enlisted service members ? 47 percent.
“We?ve come along way in 10 years, but we?ve got a lot more to do,” Latta said.
The number of Hispanic recruits have surpassed blacks, probably reflecting the national demographic shift of Hispanics becoming the dominant minority, Latta said.
The academy?s Gospel Choir has been a successful tool, helping to reach black populations, especially in the South, officials said. Five diversity counselors throughout the country are helping to recruit more minorities.
“There are no quotas, but we need to do better than what we?re doing,” Rentz said.
