On November 5, 1970, President Nixon established “The Sixteen Point Program for the Spanish Speaking”. This program is now called the Hispanic Employment Program (HEP). This program was established to implement sixteen actions focusing on the employment of Hispanics in the Federal government. The significance of the “16 Point Program” was that for the first time the Federal Government acknowledged that Hispanic Americans were underrepresented in the Federal workforce. Subsequently, the U.S. Civil Service Commission (now the Office of Personnel Management) (OPM) had the responsibility for developing and implementing the program. This program provided guidance and information to all Federal agencies. It also directed many initiatives to improve the severe under representation of Hispanics in the Federal workforce.

The Office of Diversity Employment Service, U.S. Office of Personnel Management's August 1995 report, entitled, Hispanic Americans in the Federal Government – a Statistical Profile, stated that, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanics will number 27 million and comprise over 10% of the nation's nearly 260 million population. Projections are that Hispanics could number 41 million by the year 2010 and 63 million by the year 2030.

Hispanics (a term defined by the federal government in the mid '70's) is a term of convenience that ties a diverse group of peoples who are united in language, strong family ties, and religious beliefs. Many local communities use the term Latinos. According to the U.S. Census Bureau Hispanics/Latinos are of Spanish descent who designated themselves as Mexicans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Spanish or Latinos (Dominicans, Venezuelans, Chileans, Bolivians, Columbians, Salvadorans, Costa Ricans, Argentineans, Paraguayans, Peruvians, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, Ecuadorians, Guatemalans, Uruguayans, and Panamanians.)

The Office of Personnel Management defines Hispanics as: Americans who culture is a Spanish or Latin-American origin, and whose native or ancestral language is Spanish, e.g. Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans and those whose origins are in Central and South America. Included are persons of Hispanics background, regardless of race.

Basic HEP Objectives:

1. Increase the representation of Hispanics at all grade levels and all occupational series with particular emphasis on grades 13 and above.
2. Ensure Hispanics receive consideration and are selected for training, career enhancing details and assignments.
3. Strengthen HEP communications and networking DA-wide facilitating and increasing the representation of Hispanics.
   HEP Initiatives
   Track awards, training, and promotions by occupation/grade for Hispanics
   Review installation disciplinary/discharge rates for Hispanics
   Establish liaisons with Hispanics Association of Universities and Colleges near your installation.
   Encourage the use of trainee positions when vacancies occur.
   
   Special Emphasis Programs:
   • Black Employment Program
   • Federal Women's Program