Defense Supply Service-Washington, 5200 Army Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20310-5200

B -- RESEARCH STUDY ENTITLED, ''AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE DOWNSIZING MILITARY: A DECLINING PROPENSITY TO SERVE'' SOL DASW01-95-R-0127 POC Contact, Ms. Carole Mattice,703/697-6259/Ms. Joyce Rose, 703/695- 2564 Defense Supply Service - Washington (DSS-W) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, 1090 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, for a research study entitled, ''AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE DOWNSIZING MILITARY: A DECLINING PROPENSITY TO SERVE. The purpose of this study is to examine the propensity of young Americans to enlist in the U.S. Army, with special emphasis on the African American population. It will examine the broad implications that military downsizing will have on the representation of Blacks in the services, the impact of current recruitment levels and practices on accession rates of Blacks, and Black youths' current perceptions of and propensity to serve in the military. Data for this analysis will be collected through a national survey and focus group interviews. Factors contributing to negative and positive propensity will be examined. The study will consider attitudes toward the volunteer military, the public's view of the military, and assess the impact of downsizing on the future racial, ethnic, and social composition of the military. See Numbered Note 22. (0080)

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