EO complaints down, members resolve issues at lowest level Published March 19, 2013 By Tech. Sgt. Richard Conyers 94th Airlift Wing Equal Opportunity DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Has the elephant left the room? Of course not, but at least now everyone is talking about it. In Jan. 2011, The 94th Airlift Wing held a series of training sessions coined the "Big Elephant Brief" that addressed cross cultural communications. The Big Elephant Brief was intended to address the high number of equal opportunity complaints being filed on base. To give an idea of the amount of complaints filed here, the 934th Airlift Wing at Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, Minn received two EO complaints during a four-year period. In contrast, the 94th AW saw four EO complaints filed in a four month period. Col. Tim Tarchick, 94th AW commander, tasked the EO office to give a mass briefing to all wing members. Over a year after the mass training, members are wondering if the training was successful and how the statistics compare now to then. Compared to fiscal year 2011, EO complaints have dropped by 77 percent and EO contacts by 68 percent. EO contacts are contacts made by personnel to the EO office with concerns that may or may not result in complaints. Additionally, fiscal year 2012 saw a four-month period without a complaint being filed, which has not happened since 2006. "Overall, the Big Elephant Brief was a success because it brought awareness to everyone, which hopefully empowered them to 'approach the barking dog', as Col. Tarchick says," said Capt. Darrell Bogan, EO director. "The majority of EO complaints can be resolved at the lowest level through seeking clarification. Seeking clarification requires one party to simply ask the question, 'Why is this happening,' and the other party to give an honest answer. The drop in the number of EO complaints and contacts can be attributed to an increase in open communication and a greater trust in using the chain of command." Though the wing has made significant progress in reducing its EO complaints, we still have more ground to cover. Another round of training will be rolled out in fiscal year 2013 to keep the focus on resolving issues at the lowest level. "Resolving issues before they become complaints allows personnel involved and leadership to focus on what we all are here to do, accomplishing the mission," said Bogan. In order to continue evaluating the human relations climate on base, the wing has increased its equal opportunity staff to include Bogan, Capt. Rebecca Brown, EO deputy director, Tech. Sgt. Richard Conyers, NCOIC, and EO specialists, Tech. Sgt. Jeffery Nix, Staff Sgt. Dalia Nesmith and Staff Sgt. Jessica Coleman. The staff will continue to conduct human relations education training and operate as a neutral party while resolving issues through alternative dispute resolution and processing complaints through appropriate channels. The EO staff is located in building 838, room 1128 and may be contacted at 678-655-5042.
