MEO, EEO provides counsel during disputes

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Brugman
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Military Equal Opportunity and Equal Employment Opportunity offices are projected to combine under an Air Force Smart Operations of the 21st century initiative.

"Our objective is to provide you with the best possible service maximizing the resources available," said Master Sgt. John Schumann, MEO superintendent.

"While the next year looks to be full of change for the EO community and the exact timeline for streamlining office functions has not been set, the service to our customers will not change."

Under current operations, the MEO office assists active-duty, family members and retirees with concerns of unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment involving race, color, religion, national origin or sex.

In addition to these areas, the EEO office assists civilian employees and applicants for employment with concerns of unlawful discrimination in regards to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual harassment, retaliation/reprisal, age and physical/mental disability.

"Miscommunication is often a major factor in complaints being filed," said Ms. La Verne Aldrich, 60th Air Mobility Wing EEO program manager. Ms. Aldrich says she sees approximately 40 complaints at Travis each year.

A civilian has 45 days after an incident to file a claim with EEO, according to Ms. Aldrich.

When a claim is filed, a counselor is assigned and the complainant will be given a final interview within 30 days of the inquiry.

If the complaint is not satisfied with the results of the inquiry they may file a formal complaint in order to bring in a Department of Defense investigator.

The use of disparaging terms is another area where people can get into trouble, according to Sergeant Schumann.

"When commanders are around you're not going to hear people talk like that because they know it's not professional and they will get in trouble," Sergeant Schumann said.

"When folks get relaxed and interact with their peer group, they think they can throw a disparaging term out and it's ok because it is meant in a friendly manner," he said. "The use of disparaging terms is a form of unlawful discrimination, not to mention unprofessional. Military members are expected to be professional all the time; you can't pick and choose when to be professional."

For more information on Equal Opportunity, contact MEO at 424-1701 or EEO at 424-3182.