Photo By Staff Sgt. Destinee Sweeney | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jessyca Boyd, 20th Fighter Wing (FW) Equal Opportunity (EO)...... read more read more
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An Air Force unit is made up of Airmen who rely on each other to complete daily missions. They are wingmen, teammates and colleagues joined together as collaborators on the same goal: to fly, fight and win, no matter the task.
When wingmen share respect for the heritage of the uniform and the legacy of their service, they can unite as one force. However, without respect for each other, unit cohesion can start to fall apart.
The 20th Fighter Wing Equal Opportunity office works to maintain that respect and encourage a healthy, functioning work climate by providing human relations education, mediation and facilitation and monitoring factors that may decrease unit climate.
Human relations education is provided by briefing members on the complaint process, as well as defining and helping them understand what unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment constitutes.
Both military and civilian individuals can make formal and informal complaints about unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment through EO.
Unlawful discrimination is treating a person differently due to their race, color, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation, which can include making offensive jokes and stereotyping.
Sexual harassment is physical, verbal or non-verbal unwanted sexual advances.
Through mediation and facilitation, EO can also help solve disputes beyond discrimination and sexual harassment.
“Everyone in the EO office is a certified mediator and facilitator,” said Tech. Sgt. Jessyca Boyd, 20th FW EO NCO in charge. “If there’s an issue going on in a work center, (such as a) supervisor-subordinate dispute and they can’t resolve it, we can offer mediation, facilitation and be that neutral third party to help them resolve whatever they have going on.”
Although Airmen are free to go to EO at their own discretion, Boyd recommends trying to resolve issues at the lowest level.
“We promote lowest-level resolution,” said Boyd. “We will ask, ‘Have you spoken to your chain of command? Have you given your first sergeant or commander an opportunity to try to resolve your issue as opposed to coming straight to EO?’”
Another way EO assesses unit climate is through defense EO climate surveys, which test 23 climate factors by asking questions about leadership, sexual assault prevention, unit effectiveness, training and stress management.
Lt. Col. Donald M. Gomes, 20th FW EO director, said no matter how big or small, units are all required to take the survey every year.
Commanders are able to use the survey results to take actions toward improving any areas that need attention.
Gomes said the surveys are strictly voluntary and anonymous.
Unit climate can effect Airmen’s readiness, productivity and morale, by taking steps to solve the problem as soon as it arises, it can stop the issue from growing exponentially and affecting the entire unit, said Gomes.
To contact the 20th FW EO office, call 803-895-1265.
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.05.2017 12:34 |
| Story ID: | 232724 |
| Location: | SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 18 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, EO promotes teamwork, mission readiness through climate intervention, by SSgt Destinee Sweeney, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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