Tables 4.14 and 4.15 present the distribution of officers across occupational areas by gender and race/ethnic group, respectively.  At a glance, the data suggest the need for officers to have technical knowledge in addition to more general leadership and management skills.  More than one-third of officers were working in jobs classified as part of tactical operation.  Together, the second, third, and fourth most populous occupations—health care, engineering and maintenance, and supply—approximated the manning levels of tactical operations.  Appendix Table B-37 provides FY 1999 occupational area data by Service, including personnel classified as non-occupational.

Representation of women within occupations.  Table 4.14 shows significant assignment differences between male and female officers.  Despite expanding numbers of and roles for women, it takes time to bring women into new positions and career fields, as has been the case in FY 1999.  Significantly greater percentages of men than women were in tactical operations (43 and 9 percent, respectively), whereas greater percentages of women than men were in "traditional" female occupations of administration (13 and 6 percent, respectively) and health care  (44 and 14 percent, respectively).  Appendix Table B-38 shows the assignment patterns by Service and gender.

Representation of minorities within occupations.  The percentage of each racial/ethnic category by officer occupational areas is shown in Table 4.15.  In FY 1999, racial and ethnic groups of officers generally had similar patterns of representation across occupational areas, although fewer Blacks, Hispanics, and "Others" were assigned to tactical operations.  Greater percentages of officers in the "Other" racial category than Whites, Blacks, or Hispanics were in health care positions.  Larger proportions of Hispanics than Whites and “Other” minorities were in intelligence, administration, and supply occupations.  Proportionately more Blacks than other racial/ethnic groups were in the engineering and maintenance, and administration occupations.  The Services strive to achieve racial/ethnic balance during the assignment process.  Such a focus is important because occupational assignment is related to promotion opportunities and success as an officer.

Regardless of race/ethnicity, the largest percentage of officers worked in tactical operations; the lowest percentages worked in intelligence and scientific/professional occupations.  Appendix Table B-39 provides data on occupational areas by Service and race/ethnicity.

Table 4.15.  FY 1999 Occupational Areas of Active Component Officer Corps, by Race/Ethnicity (Percent)
Occupational Area	White	Black	Hispanic	Other
General Officers and Executives	0.5	0.3	0.1	0.1
Tactical Operations	39.7	25.9	33.3	28.1
Intelligence	5.1	4.9	5.6	5.2
Engineering and Maintenance	11.4	14.7	10.6	12.7
Scientists and Professionals	5.1	4.2	4.2	4.4
Health Care	18.4	19.2	14.6	26.2
Administration	6.3	11.6	13.3	7.9
Supply, Procurement, and Allied Occupations	8.0	15.0	9.3	8.5
Non-Occupational*	5.6	4.1	9.1	7.1
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Columns may not add to total due to rounding. Calculations exclude 558 White, 30 Black, 15 Hispanic, and 4 “Other” Marine Corps and 496 White, 16 Black, 4 Hispanic, and 6 “Other”  Air Force O-6 officers classified as general officers by the Services. * Non-occupational includes patients, students, those with unassigned duties, and unknowns. Also see Appendix Table B-39 (Occupational Area by Service and Race/Ethnicity).