Equal Opportunity leaders learn life-altering lessons

By Sgt. 1st Class Mark C. Steinfeld (U.S. Army Garrison Equal Opportunity Office)March 20, 2009

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The U.S. Army Garrison Equal Opportunity (EO) Office staff hosted a week-long seminar, which began March 16, to train local and not-so-local EO leaders.

Soldiers from as far as Arkansas attended the 60-hour instruction, focused on improving the organizational climates of the participants\' commanders and promoting harmony within the workplace.

EO advisors (EOAs) from U.S. Army Forces Command, First Army, U.S. Army Central and U.S. Army Reserve Command pitched in to deliver training that included victimization, sexual assault and discrimination.

EOAs also led students through activities designed to facilitate an emotionally charged environment wrought with feeling to further enhance the learning process. This allowed the students to step out of the "text book abstract" and place into a true-to-life position they may never have felt otherwise. The emotional training is designed to teach empathy and help students recognize intentional or unintentional inequities while exploring solutions to correct them.

Soldiers in ranks sergeants through first lieutenant are eligible to be their commander's appointed delegate on Equal Opportunity issues. Primary EOLs are in ranks sergeant first class and above, while the alternates may be in ranks staff sergeant and below.