SGT Crystal Meints from the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine in Natick, Mass., was recently selected as the 2013 U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command Equal Opportunity Leader of the Year.
Meints, a veterinary technician, manages USARIEM's EO program, which follows the Army's EO program mission to direct, communicate and sustain a broad effort to ensure nondiscriminatory treatment for military personnel, their Family members and civilians regardless of race, color, gender, religion or national origin, and provide an environment free of unlawful discrimination and offensive behavior.
"I am honored to be selected as MRMC's EOL of the Year," said Meints. "My biggest goal with this program is to always foster a climate where everyone feels free to communicate their concerns and most importantly where everyone is treated fairly and with dignity and respect."
Meints was selected because of her oversight of USARIEM's EO program, which received admirable scores during recent MRMC and U.S. Army Medical Command EO inspections along with an essay about the values of EOL and the EO program to the unit and mission readiness.
SGT Meints was selected from a pool of 55 other EOLS within the MRMC region. She is currently competing for the MEDCOM EOL of the Year. The results have not been posted.
"From the time I got here, it was clear that SGT Meints constantly goes above and beyond for our EO program," said MSG Miguel Chacon, USARIEM's senior enlisted leader. "She has owned this program and has made an amazing impact, which has resulted in a great work environment for USARIEM."
Her numerous accomplishments include training approximately 200 Soldiers within and outside the organization in various aspects of the EO program , leading planning committees for installation and USARIEM Special Ethnic Observances and conducting multiple surveys to identify and communicate key issues within the command.
"Serving as an EOL for USARIEM has been so valuable to me," said Meints. "It is so incredibly important for me to be the eyes and ears for the commander and to have a pulse on things here. If something is happening to a person regardless of who they are, my main focus is to give them all their options and assist them throughout the process in helping them to find the best possible solution."
Meints encourages anyone who has questions or concerns about the EO program at USARIEM to contact her. "I am here for all Soldiers, Civilians, and their family members" Meints said. "I am here for everyone, even if it is just to guide them in the right direction or lend a listening ear."
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