A new study reveals that almost a third of the military families surveyed said they had turned down duty assignments over concerns about the racial climate at the new installation — even though they knew it could hurt their careers.
The study by Blue Star Families is the latest effort to fill in the knowledge gaps about the impacts of diversity in the military, and it’s one of a handful in recent years that explores how race and discrimination affect the everyday lives of service members and their families.
The results were mixed. Most respondents said the military has had an overall positive effect on them, but many also reported outright discrimination like racial slurs, and fear for their safety both on- and off-base. 
“Active duty family respondents of color are making very big decisions about military life based on perceptions of racism and fear for their family’s safety,” said Jennifer Akin, director of policy and social impact research at Blue Star Families. “We had 46% who consider racial and ethnic discrimination when submitting base or installation preferences,” Akin said, adding that these decisions could have long term implications on their careers.
Some of those who turned down relocation orders reported consequences in the form of unfair negative performance reviews, or opportunities for career advancement that disappeared.
The defense department said it’s currently conducting its own study of diversity patterns and an analysis of the paths — and roadblocks — to leadership.
“This comprehensive analysis will not only identify the barriers that exist for minority service members, but also the root causes of such barriers so that leadership can take effective action,” Maj. Charlie Dietz said in a statement.
