CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
What is one thing we all have in common upon arrival to a new base? Those delightful in-processing briefings from a various agencies which include safety, inspector general, finance and everyone's favorite, equal opportunity.
Although most people change duty stations a number of times, they still dread sitting through another long EO briefing. If you aren't an excited EO briefing attendee, I bring you good news. EO briefing times have been reduced in an effort to accommodate maximum effectiveness and efficiency. This means individual EO compliance responsibility is more important now than ever before.
As of July 29, 2004 incoming personnel received one of three EO briefings in accordance with Air Force Instruction 36-2706, Military Equal Opportunity Programs. The newcomer's equal opportunity briefing is held for anyone upon their subsequent permanent change of station and mandated to last at least one hour.
The key personnel briefing is for those in leadership positions to include base, group, squadron and deputy commanders. Key personnel briefings are also mandatory for first sergeants or Airmen fulfilling a first sergeant position. The key personnel briefings last for at least one hour.
Finally, the first duty station briefing covers all Airmen upon arrival at their first permanent duty assignment. First duty station briefings include enlisted personnel at the first term airman center, officers and civilians. The first duty station briefing is the longest briefing and is mandated to last at least four hours. While these briefings seem lengthy they ensure Airmen remain compliant with EO policies, effective communication, perceptions, prejudice, stereotypes, EO complaint criteria and roles and responsibilities. Each briefing must be accomplished with 30-duty days of arrival on station.
As of March 16, the Air Force revised all EO briefing the lesson plan and time requirements. The new criteria mandates new Airmen to attend NEO and KPB briefings for at least 30 minutes. The first duty station class was reduced to at least two-and-a-half hours. Before you began celebrating please understand how the time reduction will impact you, the individual.
The EO office's responsibility to extend lengthy time ensuring Airmen understand and uphold EO policies has passed. It's now time each individual step up to assume their responsibilities for proper EO practices. Supervisors must not tolerate unprofessional work environments which advocate unlawful discrimination nor sexual harassment. Unit personnel must report any EO infractions to their chain of command. Leadership must take a proactive approach to enforce zero-tolerance of discrimination and sexual harassment. The bottom line is each individual assigned to Team Charleston is responsible for compliance with EO policies.
Michael Donley, secretary of the Air Force, stated in his recent letter to Airmen, "A balanced approach means distributing our diverse missions and responsibilities across the Active and Reserve Components, civilian workforce and contractors in ways that maximize effectiveness and efficiency for joint commanders and the American taxpayer."
Reducing EO briefing times maximizes both efficiency and effectiveness understanding Team Charleston's important mission to "Take the Fight to the Enemy." Let each individual maximize efficiency and effectiveness through EO policy compliance.