EO team dedicated to mission, Airmen Published Aug. 19, 2008 By Master Sgt. Stan Coleman Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Captain Marlene Heath-Yorke, 1st Lt. Darrell Bogan and Tech. Sgt. DeBlair Tate represent a diverse team of professionals working together for a common cause. The cause they serve is with the 94th Airlift Wing as part of the Military Equal Opportunity (EO) office, whose responsibilities expanded to combine with Equal Employment Opportunity office this past January as an Air Force-wide change. To finalize this merge, in September Captain Heath-Yorke, Lieutenant Bogan, and Sergeant Tate will be fully trained to handle civilian complaints in addition to military complaints. "We enforce and manage the commander's commitment to an environment free from unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment," said Captain Heath-Yorke, 94th AW's EO chief, "People are more productive when they enjoy coming to work." To explain the EO mission precisely, according to Air Force Instruction 36-2706, "The primary objective of the EO program is to improve mission effectiveness by promoting an environment free from personal, social, or institutional barriers that prevent Air Force members from rising to the highest level of responsibility possible." This AFI mission statement for EO offices AF-wide is greatly understood by everyone in the EO office here. "In a positive work environment, people are united in completing the mission," said Captain Heath-Yorke, "When they are treated fairly and with respect, individuals feel like they are contributing members of the team." Lieutenant Bogan, the 94th AW's EO officer, is dedicated to being a "voice for people who find themselves voiceless. It's (also) my job to engage those who create barriers for other people," said Lieutenant Bogan. Lieutenant Bogan's career has not only challenged him to fight for fair treatment within the military, it has also led him to share and communicate his experiences at colleges outside of the Air Force. "Harold Washington College in Chicago invited me to speak at a convention that focused on diversity," said Lieutenant Bogan, "I also taught a seminar on cross-cultural communication and other perceptions." That teaching experience has provided a foundation for both Lieutenant Bogan and Sergeant Tate, the 94th AW's EO advisor, enabling them to even lead a group exercise on self-insight for newcomers to the wing. One tool the EO office staff uses for newcomers is a game called "Diversity Bingo." Newly assigned Airmen of every rank are given the opportunity to interview other newcomers and compare answers for descriptions on a bingo card that lists different traits that may be stereotypical. "The descriptions (used to describe others in 'Diversity Bingo') are formulated to challenge people to deal with their own perceptions and stereotypes," said Lieutenant Bogan. Helping people become aware and deal with unfair stereotypes and perceptions about other cultures is a very rewarding experience, said Sergeant Tate. "Awareness is achieved through self-evaluation," said Sergeant Tate, "This awareness helps me not only to aid others, it also helps me to help myself. In other words, I can't tell you to take an action that I don't practice myself." As far as the EO process goes, when an unfair discrimination or harassment complaint is filed with EO, an investigation is initiated to gather all of the facts surrounding the accusation, said Lieutenant Bogan. The wing commander is notified of all complaints. Once the investigation has been completed, the information is analyzed and the findings are provided to the appropriate commander for possible action. An EO professional should be "honest, objective and committed," said Captain Heath-Yorke. That person should also be an "effective communicator, able to communicate with all levels of an organization," she said. The wing's EO team works to communicate and maintain a presence with the base populace. The "Out and About Program" is a EO tool for evaluating how people are getting along in the work force, said Lieutenant Bogan. "We visit and talk to Airmen, civilians and contractors at the base exchange, gym or just about any place on base to get a grasp on the conditions of human relations within the wing," he said. According to Captain Heath-Yorke, the EO tools (such as the "Out and About" program and the unit climate assessment) help ensure commanders are aware of issues in their units and provide them a way to address those issues. However, the process is a two-way street, and Airmen are encouraged to be honest. "If your unit commander doesn't know about a problem, how can he address it?" she said. (If you need to contact the 94th AW's EO office, the email address is 94AW.ME@dobbins.af.mil or the telephone number is 678-655-5042.)
