How has Equal Opportunity helped or hindered the military's drive for equality of the sexes, races and creeds? Does it need to be modernized?

2016-08-29T01:58:57-04:00

Response by LCpl Hilton Hoskins made Aug 29 at 2016 2:10 AM

2016-08-29T02:10:18-04:00

Equal Opportunity helps because it keeps our military a force in readiness. Plus, it ensures people are fairly treated when enforced and encouraged. Also, it gives incentive for those who have rightly earned their rank, medal, MOS, billet, and respect to receive those things. In other words, it makes people feel of value. Plus, promoting equality increases comradery among troops which is much needed out there in the sticks. Yes, it does need to be modernized.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Aug 29 at 2016 8:55 AM

2016-08-29T08:55:11-04:00

As long as standards for operational readiness are upheld, I support equal opportunity.

Response by SSG Keith Cashion made Aug 29 at 2016 9:16 AM

2016-08-29T09:16:39-04:00

If the policies and standards are upheld, and obeyed it is a good thing. Equality in the Military should be looked at like this. Everyone wears the same funny looking suit. Everyone should be able to get the training they came in for or desire to do while in the Military. The awards, Promotions and stuff like that, should come when they have done the best that they can so. If you have a female wanting to go to Ranger Training, so be it, but the standards for one should be the standards for all. That should be the main caveat through out. Has EO helped the helped or hindered the Military? That is a mix bag of answers, the a lot of People would end up picking sides. Personally, I don't think it has gotten to the point to where it needs to be.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 29 at 2016 1:04 PM

2016-08-29T13:04:22-04:00

I started out by having Zumwalt's "Project Upward Seminar" forced on all commands which did more to bring hatred to the front without the means to deal with it. Lot's of fights broke out aboard ship and overall performance tanked everywhere. Since that's my starting point and I've been a Title VII trained EEO counselor and conducted a number of Admin Investigations, I've come to a conclusion that some probably won't like. That is, we're hitting diminishing returns on tinkering with policies, processes, and systems. The bigger opportunity relates to changing a culture's heart and soul. So the EEO stuff, once it got on track, did/does help but it has its limitations; and we're reaching them.

The problem is there's a fatal flaw in any Government trying to force people how to think, feel, and act. Good parenting does more than Government programs. So my take is more focus on stuff that will move the needle significantly further is a better investment than stuff published in the Federal Register.

Funny thing, performance did pick up again after all that fighting and people got it out of their system. But that 3-4 months in between sucked.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2016 2:31 PM

2016-08-29T14:31:49-04:00

Equal opportunity is a good thing.