USD–N soldiers complete EO leaders course

Photo By Spc. Andrew Ingram | Master Sgt. Bobby Estrada, senior equal opportunity advisor, U.S. Division-North, tells newly certified equal opportunity leaders to take what they have learned during their six-day training course and ensure fair treatment of every soldier during a class at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, Aug. 10, 2011.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IRAQ

08.10.2011

Courtesy Story

United States Division-North

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Twenty-five soldiers, deployed to Iraq as part of U.S. Division–North, graduated from an equal opportunity leaders course at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Aug. 10, 2011.

During the six-day course, non-commissioned officers studied the skills needed to guard against discrimination amidst the rank and file, the procedures for the EO complaint process, and the best ways to advise their commanders on all issues pertaining to the rights of their soldiers.

In addition to their everyday tasks and duties, these new EO leaders now shoulder the responsibility for setting the equal opportunity standards for their companies and battalions. Also, they ensure every soldier is treated without prejudice, said Sgt. 1st Class Demetrius Smith, equal opportunity advisor, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, one of the course instructors.

“The good thing about having them down at company level is that they know the climate; they can make a good assessment of what is going on with their soldiers,” said Smith, who hails from Philadelphia. “Sometimes they have been working and training with the same team for years. It is very beneficial to have someone who can engage soldiers on the ground to recognize problems and correct them on the spot.”

Smith said his students took to the subject matter quickly, recognizing the importance of the subject, and dedicating themselves to learning it from the beginning.

“This class has definitely meshed together a lot quicker than some of my other classes,” said Smith. “When new students come into this class, they are often uncomfortable with the subject, but this class became a very friendly environment very quickly. They bonded right from the beginning and started participating and working together even before the first day was complete.”

Before participating in the class and seeing the need for professionals dedicated to fair treatment of their comrades, some of students thought of equal opportunity as trivial, said Staff Sgt. Donald Bell, information technology specialist, Company A, 62nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, after receiving his certificate of completion.

“To be honest, I’m not even sure I really understood what EO was before taking this class,” said Bell, a Washington D.C. native. “But coming out of this training, my eyes are open to a lot of the problems we still have in the military. To sum it up in the most basic terms, equal opportunity is in place so that everyone has a fair chance. As equal opportunity leaders we are here to prevent discrimination.”

Bell said one of the best things about military service is the knowledge that, no matter who you are, you have the same opportunities as every other soldier.

“I want the soldiers to know that no matter what race you are, cultural ethnicity or sex that the Army is fair,” he said. “ We have this program in place to make sure that everyone has a chance to advance. If growing up you weren’t given a chance, in the Army you have a chance to succeed at life. And if you feel … you are not getting that chance, you should go talk to your EO leader.”

The requirement for every unit to have certified EO leaders represents a vast improvement in the approach to equal opportunity, said Master Sgt. Jennifer Lane, Operations NCO, Company C, Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division.

“Coming up as a private, back in 1995, I heard a lot of sexual jokes and innuendo,” said Lane. “We didn’t have a very big focus on subjects like the prevention of sexual assault or sexual harassment. It has changed a lot since then. We have a much better focus now and we are trying to push it down to the lower levels. Things definitely have changed and they have changed for the better.”

• Date Taken: 08.10.2011
• Date Posted: 08.17.2011 02:42
• Story ID: 75462
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ