"In April 2003, General Eric Shinseki, the Chief of Staff of the Army, directed General Kevin Byrnes, the Commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), to form a committe "To identify potential disparate trends in commissioned officer minority representation across all branches of the Army, and to develop short, mid-and long-term couses of action, as warranted, in order for the to continue to draw strength from the contributionsof our diverse ethnic and cultural Nation." The "disparate trends" to which the Chief of Staff referred were (1) the tendency of African American officer aspirants to select non-combat arms occupational specialties upon commissioning and (2) the overall shortage of Hispanic officers in the officer corps. To accomplish Shinseki's tasking, Byrnes formed the Commission on Officer Diversity and Advancement in the Army. This document represents the final report of that commission." -- page 1.

Report written circa 2003.

Background on the Commission on Officer Diversity and Advancement in the Army (CODA) -- African American Trends -- An Overview of Diversity and the Army -- Recommendations of the CODA Working Group -- The Way Ahead -- Summary and Conclusions