FORT HOOD, Texas -- First Army Division West is doing its part in pushing the Army's Equal Opportunity program through the ranks to Soldiers, Families and civilians.
"Equal opportunity is a vital and integral part of not only the Army, but every part of its setup," said Master Sgt. Eric Tizol, Division West Equal Opportunity Advisor. "The purpose of the EO program is to eliminate any type of discrimination or discriminatory behavior or practices that would undermine the teamwork that fuels the Army's day-to-day operations."
The Army's EO program formulates, directs and sustains a comprehensive effort to maximize human potential to ensure fair treatment for military personnel, Family members and civilians without regard to race, color, gender, religion or national origin, and provides an environment free of unlawful discrimination and offensive behavior.
Equal opportunity is the commander's program and he/she can regulate what he/she wants to see spread throughout the ranks. By regulation, equal opportunity training is conducted quarterly in all Army units and Division West has adhered to that standard.
"I created a monthly one-page article called 'Division EO News'," Tizol said. "It displays EO trivia, cultural and ethnic group questions and other need-to-know information."
Equal opportunity also exposes Soldiers to national and cultural observances. Division West plans to share cultural achievements and awareness right at its own level, in addition to III Armored Corps and Fort Hood observances.
"We will start an intradivision special ethnic observance program," Tizol said. "We want to highlight the achievement of each group from month to month, from division level down to each of our eight brigades."
The calendar year's equal opportunity observances are discussed in a second publication sent out by the Division West EOA called 'EO Tidbits.'
"I want to bring little pieces of information to the table more and more," said Tizol. "Hopefully, it will prove beneficial to our Soldiers and the division as a whole."
Equal opportunity hierarchy is broken down into three parts -- the project manager, the equal opportunity advisor and the equal opportunity leader - from command level to unit level.
Tizol was appointed the Division West EOA in December. He has previously performed duties as an EOL and knows the differences from one level to another but appreciates his new role and its involvement with the Soldiers.
"As the EOA, I have been able to get more in depth with training and the Soldiers ideas about increasing EO awareness," said Tizol. "Understanding diversity and recognizing differences will make us a stronger Army."
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