The number of black military recruits has significantly declined since the beginning of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2001, there were 51,500 African American recruits for active duty and the reserves. Five years later there was a 38% decline with African American recruits comprising less than 32,000. (Source: Department of Defense)
The Army has the highest percentage of African American enlisted. In 2001, African Americans made up 29% of enlisted Army members; by 2005 that number had dropped to 23%. (Source: Army Recruiting Command; Department of Defense)
Of the more than 3,700 confirmed casualties in all branches of the military, African Americans account for 9% of those killed in the Iraq war. (Source: Department of Defense; Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, 2007)
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