The U.S. military can be thought of as a microcosm of American society, bringing in people from diverse backgrounds and history to defend one nation. Military leaders must address the same issues and concerns as those found in the civilian world, including exclusion, segregation, and discrimination. In some cases, the military has led the nation by creating policies of inclusion before civilian laws required them to do so. In other causes, the military has lagged behind the larger society. The goal of this book is to provide an overview of the ways in which diversity has been addressed in the military by providing information about particular forms of diversity including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexuality. Subject matter experts provide their insights into the roles that each of these groups have played in the U.S. armed services as well as the laws, rules, and regulations regarding their participation. Ultimately, the authors utilize this information as a way to better understand military diversity and the unique ways that individuals incorporate the military into their sense identity.

Diversity of the military / David Rohall, Morten Ender, and Michael Matthews -- Part I. Race and ethnic diversity in the military. African-Americans in the U.S. military / JooHee Han -- Rising minority : Hispanics in the U.S. military / Karin De Angelis -- Fighting to belong : Asian American military service and American citizenship / Deenesh Sohoni -- Native American "warriors" in the United States Armed Forces / William C. Meadows -- Part II. Sexuality, gender and religious minorities in the military. Women in the U.S. military : progress and challenges / Janice H. Laurence -- Lesbian and gay service members and their families / David Smith and Karin De Angelis -- The integration of trans people into the military / Judith E. Rosenstein -- Religious diversity in the U.S. Armed Forces / Michelle Sandhoff -- Part III. Intersections : linking statuses. The intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality in the military / David Rohall, Morten Ender, and Michael D. Matthews.