Guide To Command of Negro Naval Personnel

[xoxoxoBruce]

Guide To Command of Negro Naval Personnel
NAVPERS-15092
Navy Department
Bureau of Naval Personnel
Washington, D.C., 12 February 1945.
Bureau of Naval Personnel Pamphlet Guide to Command of Negro Naval Personnel, is published for the information and guidance of all Naval officers.
[signed]
[Rear Admiral] Randall Jacobs
Chief of Naval Personnel
Table of contents

Introduction

1. The Negro in the Navy
Negroes in Naval History
Increased Participation in World War II
Racial Theories Waste Manpower
Attitudes and Policy
Handicaps Are Being Overcome
Responsibility is Local

2. Training and Assignment
Negro and White Test Scores
Use of the GCT
Training Reduces Handicaps
Negroes Eager to Learn
Utilization of Civilian Skills
Opportunities and Morale
Advancement in Rating
Satisfaction in Assignment
Unpopular Jobs
Selection for Sea Duty
Importance of Overseas Service
Need for Experiment
Be Skeptical About Ready Generalizations

3. Problems of Command
Attitudes Towards Service in the Navy
Attitudes Can Be Improved
Symbols That Irritate
Even Compliments may be Misunderstood
Racial Separation
Recreation
Community Resources
Transportation
Public Relations
The Negro Press
Rumors
Reprimands and Disciplinary Action
Venereal Disease
Control of Venereal Disease
Leadership
The Choice of Leaders
Mutual Confidence is Important
Negro Petty Officers
Indoctrination of Personnel
Alertness to Learn

It would appear that by 1945, the navy was beginning to understand that during the war, they underutilized their black sailors.

Racial Theories Waste Manpower

In modern total warfare any avoidable waste of manpower can only be viewed as material aid to the enemy. Restriction, because of racial theories, of the contribution of any individual to the war effort is a serious waste of human resources.

The Navy accepts no theories of racial differences in inborn ability, but expects that every man wearing its uniform be trained and used in accordance with his maximum individual capacity determined on the basis of individual performance.

It is recognized, of course, that Negro performance in Naval training and tasks on the average has not been equal to the average performance of white personnel. Explanation of this difference by resort to some theory of differences in natural endowment, however, leads only to confusion in which the potentialities of individuals become obscured.

It has been established by experience that individual Negroes vary as widely in native ability as do members of any other race. It is the Navy's responsibility to develop the potentialities of individuals to the extent that the exigencies of war require and permit.

Attitudes and Policy

It is worse than useless to deny or ignore the existence of personal racial preferences and prejudices. Such opinions and attitudes are no more rare among military than among civilian personnel, and must be taken into account just as any other human factor in the conduct of the Naval Establishment.

This does not mean, however, that such attitudes may be accepted as a controlling factor in the formulation of general policy or in day to day operations. It is encumbent on, and expected of each officer that his attitudes and day to day conduct of affairs reflect a rigid and impartial adherence to Naval regulations, in which no distinction is made between the color of individuals wearing the uniform. This pattern of thought should be passed on by each officer to the enlisted men, both White and Negro, under him.

[fargon]

It seems that even back then us white folks were getting smarter. My dad told me that when the services were fully integrated men were getting out because they thought it was the end of the world. I'm glad we found out different, I owe my life to FN Reggie Day USCG. It don't matter what color the hand that helps you is, what matters is that the person is there to help.