Worldwide Equal Opportunity provides essential training

Retired Navy SEAL Senior Chief Petty Officer Kristin Beck speaks to attendees about being transgender and acceptance within the military during the Air Force Equal Opportunity Worldwide Functional Training Workshop on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 6, 2015. The event provided over 230 equal opportunity and human relations professionals with essential training to better the support they provide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Matt Davis)

Lt. Gen. Samuel Cox, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, addresses the Air Force Equal Opportunity Worldwide Functional Training Workshop on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 4, 2015. The event provides over 230 equal opportunity and human relations professionals with essential training to better the support they provide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Matt Davis)

Worldwide Equal Opportunity provides essential training

Published Aug. 17, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Matt Davis
Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- A worldwide training event, the 2015 Air Force Equal Opportunity Worldwide Functional Training Workshop was held August 4-7. The event covered topics such as diversity management, dispute resolution, sexual assault prevention and disability programs.

"It's important for us to come together to learn from shared experiences as this workshop aligns our efforts across the service," said Lt. Gen. Samuel D. Cox, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. "We must promote an environment free from personal, social, or institutional barriers; an environment and workplace where Air Force members can rise to their highest potential."

The training also provided mandatory training for all EO personnel in a group environment. The event was also an opportunity for EO professionals to share policies and procedures and how they conduct operations.

"Some of the benefits of this workshop is networking and getting to meet some of our peers," said Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Murphy, Joint Base Langley-Eustis EO Office superintendent. "It's great to meet each other and share ideas while learning the processes and procedures we use to work together."

The workshop created a unique focus on Air Force-specific EO training whereas in the past, many personnel attended joint training programs. This event uses terminology for Air Force personnel that helps accomplish their mission of promoting an environment free from personal, social or institutional barriers for Airmen.

"We all come together to accomplish the same goals and the end goal is the same," said Murphy. "We all have different parts, pieces and responsibilities in that program but it's a collective effort."

Over 230 equal opportunity and human relations professionals were provided essential training that included 11 breakout sessions with specific EO training. Each session gave attendees an opportunity to have open discussions about managing and processing EO operations.

"I think the emphasis of equal opportunity programs needs to be reinforced with this type of event annually so that we can continue to be proactive," said Murphy.