Photo By Sgt. Daniel Schneider | Staff Sgt. Fernando Pineiro, medical section non-commissioned officer assigned to 5th...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD – During an Equal Opportunity Leader course held at Camp Victory July 12-17, Soldiers from United States Division – Center and U.S. Forces – Iraq learned how to address EO concerns.
More than 20 leaders attended the class and became certified as subject matter experts to serve their fellow Soldiers and commanders.
“The main purpose of this class is to train these Soldiers to be the eyes, ears and voice of their commander in regards to Equal Opportunity,” said Sgt. 1st Class Alfredo Garza, equal opportunity advisor and deployed sexual assault response coordinator assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Company, Combat Aviation Bde, 1st Infantry Division. “These leaders will have the tools and knowledge to spot discrimination and help Soldiers locally with EO concerns.”
Additional EO representatives give Soldiers at the unit level another means of voicing their concerns.
“These new EO leader graduates provide Soldiers in their units with another avenue to ensure they are treated with dignity and respect,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Patterson, USD-C senior EO advisor and native of Paris, Ark. “If young Soldiers are intimidated by going to their commander with an EO concern, now they’ll have a noncommissioned officer to go to.”
Being a leader is more than a personal accomplishment, said Patterson. Good leadership comes from truly caring about Soldiers, and understanding where they are coming from while addressing their concerns.
Col. Roger Cloutier, brigade commander of 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Inf. Div., spoke about Soldiers from his unit who graduated from the course July 17. He expressed how proud he was and thankful for what the new EO leaders can now provide the brigade’s Soldiers in their new position.
“These nine NCO's now have the knowledge they need in order to see situations are handled before they become serious,” said Cloutier. “I’m especially proud of these Soldiers who volunteered to take this training above and beyond their normal duties.”
One of the graduates of the class, Staff Sgt. David Tirko, an infantry squad leader assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st AAB, 3rd Inf. Div., enjoyed what he learned and he was amazed how much it changed his view.
“The class was an enlightening experience,” said Tirko, a Buffalo, N.Y., native. “Equal opportunity awareness training should not be taken lightly. It is a serious matter that should be constantly put in Soldiers’ minds.”
| Date Taken: | 07.16.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2010 05:52 |
| Story ID: | 53206 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 238 |
| Downloads: | 120 |
This work, Soldiers learn to be equal opportunity leaders, by SGT Daniel Schneider, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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