WIESBADEN, Germany -- Equal opportunity advisors for units U.S. Army Europe's major units gathered here Sept. 29-30 to discuss strategies and opportunities to improve their roles as advisors to unit commanders across the USAREUR footprint.
"The importance of this training is to ensure that we establish camaraderie between the different equal opportunity advisors so they know they have a connection or a network of information that they can pull from their follow EO advisors," said Command Sgt. Maj. Romeo Montez III, senior enlisted advisor for U.S. Army Installation Management Command-Europe. Montez was a key speaker on the second day of the conference.
Montez said the training was also designed to go over new policies and procedures that will affect the advisors, as well as to enforce the role that the noncommissioned officer advisors play in their units.
Over the course of the two days the participants discussed ways to be more active and how to make a difference by advising the commanders on equal opportunity topics. For example, the training stressed that advisors must have a 24-hour open door policy to advocate for the members of their units, and that advisors must be sure to gather all the facts on an issue as their first step in the advising process.
Staff Sgt. Maria Flores-Sanz, EOA for the USAREUR Band and Chorus at Sembach Kaserne, Germany, said the training achieved its goals of building skills and networks.
"I really think this helps everybody. First of all, (it provides a) network just in case you need assistance or advice on a situation, and also you get to get more clarity on the policies and regulations that are changing," she said.
"This is not something that you can talk about once a year," said Larry Gottardi, USAREUR Deputy Chief of Staff of Personnel (G1), who also spoke at the conference. "The program has to be active every day, and people need to know the officers and NCOs are committed to its improvement. The bottom line for equal opportunity is that everyone gets the same chance -- that is all it is."
---
About us: U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned to advance American strategic interests across Eurasia as U.S. European Command's force of choice and has unparalleled capability to prevent conflict, shape the environment and, if necessary, win decisively. The relationships we build during 1000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnerships, and enhance global security.
Social Sharing