Military Personnel and Skills Custodianship in the Time of Volunteer Forces
In a groundbreaking study, "Army Service in the All-Volunteer Era," researchers found that military service has long-term effects on veterans' earnings that differ by race. The study, co-authored by Lieutenant Colonel Kyle Greenberg, an academy professor for economics in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point, suggests that Army service provides African-American veterans with greater upward economic mobility benefits compared to white veterans.
Command Sergeant Major Faith Alexander, a geospatial engineer who has led countless soldiers over the past twenty-five years, began her career in 1996. Her impressive military career aligns with the study's findings, which indicate that Army service can significantly improve long-term labor market outcomes for African-American veterans.
The study, published in Harvard University's Quarterly Journal of Economics, was discussed in detail in Episode 3 of the "Social Science of War" podcast, a production of the Department of Social Sciences at West Point. Hosted by Kyle Atwell, the episode delved into the impact of Army service on a soldier's earning potential, the Army's response to its recruiting crisis, and talent management issues.
The podcast episode referenced the "Army Service in the All-Volunteer Era" study, highlighting its findings that both black and white applicants benefit from Army service in the short run due to the military's relatively high pay compared to civilian jobs. However, the study also revealed that for African-American veterans, the effect of Army service on long-term earnings was substantial, helping to narrow the racial earnings gap.
Kyle Greenberg, who served tours in Iraq and Germany before teaching at West Point, is the director of long-term research for the Army's Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis. His primary areas of research include labor economics, public finance, the economics of education, and market design.
The Department of Social Sciences at West Point's website offers information about becoming a student, teaching, or connecting with instructors, providing an opportunity for those interested in learning more about the study and its implications.
These findings support arguments that the military has given African-Americans more equal opportunity than any other institution in American society, as suggested by General Colin Powell. While the study does not provide specific quantitative findings or exact study citations, it contributes to a growing body of evidence that Army service tends to have a positive and relatively larger long-term effect on African-American veterans' earnings compared to white veterans.
Command Sergeant Major Faith Alexander currently serves as the senior enlisted advisor at the Army Enterprise Marketing Office, which supports the Army's recruiting efforts. Her career trajectory and the study's findings underscore the importance of military service for African-American veterans and the potential for the military to serve as a pathway to greater economic opportunity.
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