Promotion: Denied

An Interview with Lt. Col. Joseph W. Hoffler, USAF-Ret.

Q:Your book, Promotion: Denied—The Harrowing True Story of Racism, Cover-up, Betrayal and Vigilante Justice at the United States Air Force Academy, tells the story of the discrimination you experienced in the U.S. military. Tell us about the experience.

A:As an Air Force officer with twenty-two years of service, I was due to meet the promotion board to colonel but was denied the promotion. Previously, I had been the victim of an ongoing witch-hunt led by people who thought my squadron’s command element was “too black.” As a result, I was given an unjustified letter of reprimand that eliminated me from consideration for promotion. The real reason behind the letter was racism. It was blatant, and the perpetrators knew that the Air Force would protect them.

Q:How did you feel when you realized that the actions taken against you were racially motivated?

A:I was disappointed, offended and extremely angry. Since I’d become an officer in the Air Force, I had proudly told minority members that if they worked hard, they would earn their promotions, and that they shouldn’t blame the color of their skins for their failures. I also told them that if they did experience discrimination, there was a complaint process that would address their needs. When I received the unjustified letter of reprimand, I felt as though if I reached the right person or agency, my voice would be heard and the issue would be resolved. As time went on, I found out how corrupt the complaint system really was.

Q:Has the U.S. military improved for minorities since your service?

A:It does not seem so. According to a Pentagon survey conducted in 1999, black military personnel were not happy with the level of racial equality in the armed forces. My fear is that unless there are newsworthy actions from inside the military ranks—that is, big complaints that make headlines—the problem of racial discrimination in the military will not be addressed at all.

Q:What do you think of the military as a career path for African-Americans?

A:I feel that the path may not be as attractive today as it was when I enlisted. In 1962, the military was one of the few careers in which a person could advance based on his or her abilities. Today, many companies offer the same promotion opportunities—and higher salaries—without the hardships of a military career. Many blacks now hold high corporate positions, which was just not possible yearswere just not possible years ago.

Q:What steps has the government taken to counteract discrimination in the military?

A:The Air Force and Congress conducted a panel to investigate instances of sexual harassment at the Air Force Academy, which resulted in great improvements including the assignment of women to senior positions at the Academy. In addition, the U.S. Air Force appointed a task force to investigate complaints of religious discrimination at the academy. However, I am unaware of anyone conducting a similar study on racial discrimination. In my opinion, either they feel as though black personnel are not discriminated against, or they are afraid of what they will find.

Q:Who helped you with your cause?

A:Not one person in the chain of command or in the agencies that had been established to investigate racism. Not the academy, and particularly not the superintendent, nor the Air Force itself. The military establishment did not help me, the Department of Defense did not help me, and the U.S. Congress did not help me. Even the NAACP and the Rainbow Coalition refused to get involved. My only allies were my squadron, especially my operations officer and first sergeant.

Q:What advice would you give to a serviceman or woman who is facing discrimination?

A:Speak up. You owe it to yourself, and to those who will follow you, to pursue your complaint to the end. If you don’t stand up for yourself, no one will do it for you. Also, most importantly, do not put your trust in the system. The government agencies that are supposed to fight discrimination are only as good as the personnel they employ. In my case, my supervisor was able to corrupt the whole system. When given indisputable evidences of wrong doing and unequal treatment by the chief of staff, no one in official channels assisted me. In short, they should prepare themselves for a fight.

Q:Tell us about your military career.

A:I enlisted in the US Air Force in 1962 and spent my first year and a half as a security policeman at Truax Field, Wisconsin. I was selected for Officers Training School and received my commission on July 1, 1964. My assignments in the security police career field include Griffiss AFB, New York, and RAF Bentwaters and RAF Greenham Common in England. I spent five years at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, as a minuteman missile launch officer. I then returned to the security police career field and was assigned to Udon AB, Thailand, RAF Mildenhall, England, and the USAF Academy.