Racial Differences in Male Navy Officer Fitness Reports

Abstract

The perception of racial bias in performance evaluation is widespread among Black male Navy officers. In this article, we discuss an analysis of the quantitative marks and written comments in the fitness reports of matched pairs of 582 officers. Ninety-nine percent of the White officers and 96% of the Black officers were rated in the highest block on overall performance. Some racial differences were found in the written comments, however. White officers were described as outstanding leaders more often than Black officers. Most important, White officers were given significantly more promotion-related recommendations than were Black officers, who received more assignment-related recommendations. There were virtually no racial differences in the evaluations of pilots and naval flight officers. Black officers in the surface warfare community and medical service corps, the communities having the highest population of Black officers, were apt to receive less career-enhancing ratings than their White peers. The analysis by military rank revealed that most of the racial differences occurred in the evaluations of lieutenants. Because information concerning actual level of performance was unavailable, it was not possible to conclude that racial bias was operating.