An MQ-9 Reaper sits on the flight line at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 3, 2014.The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Staff Sgt. John Bainter)

Commentaries

Equal Opportunity staff participates in symposium

  • Published
  • By Capt. Macarthur Fountain
  • 919th Special Operations Wing
FT. WALTON BEACH, Fla. --  

If you’ve been on Duke Field for the last few months, you’ve probably heard about the R.I.P.D. culture. It’s short for “Readiness, Innovation, Partnership, and Development.” Our Wing Commander believes that these concepts will lead to continued success for the 919th and our mission partners.

The 919th SOW's Equal Opportunity office had the opportunity to execute on each of those priorities by attending the 2020 Air Force Materiel Command's Equal Employment Opportunity Symposium in Ft. Walton Beach Feb. 18-20, 2020. Duke Field’s EO office is charged with assisting our Commander in ensuring each Airman is measured solely on their fitness, merit, and capability. Having a healthy EO climate is critical to unit cohesion and READINESS. The conference introduced new and INNOVATIVE ways to engage our Commanders and Airman to make sure that unit cohesion remains strong. The Eglin Air Force Base EO office invited our EO professionals out to take part in this event. The initiative by our teammates at Eglin are indicative of the PARTNERSHIP we have with their organizations.

Additionally, the symposium featured several key speakers who delivered information on topics that are critical to our Air Force’s continued dominance in Air, Space, and Cyberspace. Some of those topics included: “The Model EEO Process,” “Civilian Informal Complaints,” “Military Complaints,” “Bullying and Hazing,” and “Alternative Dispute Resolution.”

Constant DEVELOPMENT of our EO professionals reinforces our commander’s commitment to removing personal, social, and institutional barriers that prevent our Airmen from reaching their highest level of responsibility.