Diversity working group enhances teamwork

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL, UNITED STATES

03.25.2016

Story by Candy C Knight 

Air Mobility Command

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — At this very moment, Air Mobility Command Airmen around the globe are performing airlift and airdrops, refueling aircraft, evacuating the wounded or delivering humanitarian assistance to a disaster area.

AMC's rapid global mobility mission requires a diverse and inclusive team that is ready and willing to answer the call so others prevail.

The AMC Diversity and Inclusion Working Group (DIWG) was established in May 2013 to create initiatives to integrate diversity and inclusion across the enterprise.

"Diversity and inclusion in the military is important, because it is a national security imperative that impacts our readiness and capabilities for today and the future," said Dr. Carrie Baker, AMC's human relations and workforce diversity branch chief at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. "

The men and women serving in our U.S. Air Force are representative of the diversity of our nation; Optimizing that results in better retention rates of women and minorities, diversity of thought and closer ties within our organization, and with our community."

She said the U.S. is projected to become a majority-minority nation for the first time in 2043, according to U.S. Census Bureau. This occurs when one or more racial, or ethnic, minority groups make up the majority.

"This will essentially impact the labor pool and available talent," Baker said. "As an employer, we (Air Force) must be willing to stay competitive by making every effort to attract and retain the best and brightest talent. Additionally, as we take on more diverse missions with a diverse team, it makes us a positive role model on the world stage as we build meaningful relationships with internal and strategic partners."

Currently, the DIWG is divided into four groups, each with a specific topic to address: attract talent, leadership emphasis, recruit and development, and workforce diversity. Each group is comprised of both civilians and military team members.

"After speaking with team members across the command, I have come to realize that collectively, we share many of the same concerns and challenges," said Kerwin Lay, program element monitor for senior leadership airborne communications at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. "The power of collaboration and sharing feasible solutions is invaluable."

Collaborating with DIWG team members across AMC's enterprise allows the team to address limited perceptions about diversity, such as it being just a politically-sensitive way of saying affirmative action, or that it only focuses on ethnicity, race and gender.

"Diversity and inclusion is often confused with affirmative action or equal opportunity, which are not the same," Baker stated. "Affirmative action is quota-focused; equal opportunity ensures legal compliance is practiced regarding employment decisions in an effort to prevent discrimination; and diversity and inclusion is talent management-focused. It is very important to address the misconceptions, because diversity and inclusion is still confusing, and even uncomfortable, to some, because of lack of education on the subject and lack of understanding about talent management."

When asked is if having a more diverse team actually helps AMC succeed in its mission, both Baker and Lay answered with a resounding "yes."

"Having a more diverse team, which clearly reflects the fiber of society - culturally and ethnically - projects not only an environment of inclusion, but fosters an environment where everyone feels inspired to share their ideas," Lay said. "When that happens, the possibilities are endless."

"In the recent past, our Contingency Response Wing sent a team to open an aerial port in Liberia to handle the flow of cargo to help in the fight against Ebola. That same team packed up, went home, reconfigured, and a few months later opened an aerial port in Iraq for our fight against ISIS/ISIL," Baker said.

"AMC has, and continues to, lead the way in our Air Force regarding diversity and inclusion. With the great work the DIWG is currently conducting, our future remains bright."

• Date Taken: 03.25.2016
• Date Posted: 03.21.2018 10:51
• Story ID: 270106
• Location: SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL, US