The latest version of the Army regulation governing the policies and responsibilities of command includes a section that states a soldier can be referred to as a "Negro" when describing black or African-American troops.

The Oct. 22 revision to AR 600-20, which covers "Army Command Policy," was a "rapid action revision" covering only parts of the regulation, according to the summary of changes to the document.

The update covered a series of items, including the Army's Ready and Resilient Campaign and additional guidance for the Army's sexual harassment prevention program.

Reference to the word "Negro" appears in a section describing "race and ethnic code definitions," as first reported by CNN.

Black or African-American personnel are described in the regulation as "a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as 'Haitian' or 'Negro' can be used in addition to 'Black' or 'African American,' the regulation states.

The racial definitions in the regulation are outdated, said Lt. Col. Justin Platt, an Army spokesman, in a statement.

The definitions are "currently under review and will be updated shortly," he said. "The Army takes pride in sustaining a culture where all personnel are treated with dignity and respect and not discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender and national origin."

The Census Bureau stopped using the term "Negro" in 2013 after public feedback and research showed few black Americans still identify with being Negro and many view the term as "offensive and outdated," The Associated Press reported.

About Michelle Tan

Michelle Tan is the editor of Army Times and Air Force Times. She has covered the military for Military Times since 2005, and has embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Haiti, Gabon and the Horn of Africa.

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