New name, mission for Opportunity office

  • Published
  • By Capt. Layne Wroblewski
  • 931st ARG Equal Opportunity Office
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Equal Opportunity in the Military has had several official titles. The office that facilitated human relations issues was originally called "Social Actions." In 1999, its title was changed to Military Equal Opportunity.

MEO was the office designed to support mission effectiveness by promoting an environment free from personal, social, or institutional barriers that prevent members from rising to the highest level of responsibility possible based upon individual merit, fitness, and capability. The MEO office managed military issues and a civilian Equal Employment Opportunity Office handled complaints from civilians and military personnel who were in civilian status at the time of the incident.

In 2006, this division began to change in the active duty Air Force. It changed for the Reserve in January 2008. Now, both are known as the Equal Opportunity Office, or "EO." Civilian and military EO advisors can take either civilian or military complaints including mediate civilian and military issues.

Michlene Tucker, EO program Manager for the 22nd, said, "We've been integrated a couple of years where we have qualified military personnel taking both civilian and military intakes. The merger is a big benefit during a time of budget constraints and manning cuts."

Lt. Col. Sue Lovas, the 931st EO Program Manager, agrees. "It makes sense to integrate the two offices to better facilitate the needs of the Air Force", stated Colonel Lovas. Manning authorizations changed and training requirements are being designed to educate both civilian and military personnel on handling the complexities of each.
It isn't clear how the change will impact the 931st EO office, but training is on the agenda.

"We're on a fast track to determine what the requirements are and integrate the necessary skill set to assist our 22nd partners with our own 931st EO team", Colonel Lovas said. "We look forward to providing any assistance to our total force within the 931st but also will be leaning on the 22nd to educate us through the process they have recently walked through."