When was the last time you picked up your unit’s policy letters or operating instructions and read them?
Furthermore, why do you think leadership creates policy letters and OIs? Why is it your responsibility to read them?
Commanders establish a framework of what’s acceptable or unacceptable within our Air Force communities or to simplify and support existing governing Air Force Instructions or guidance.
Policy letters and OIs can also contain leadership messages from senior officials on issues affecting the Air Force and its
members.
So, let’s begin by familiarizing you with one specific AFI – “Equal Opportunity and Treatment” – and how our local policies build on the guiding principles of the Department of Defense and the Air Force.
By beginning with the DOD’s basic instruction, you’ll see how each subsequent policy, down the chain of command, supports it’s over all meaning and finally ends up in an OI.
DOD instruction 1350.2 directs us to promote an environment free from personal, social or institutional barriers that prevent members from rising to the highest level of responsibility possible. It further directs that members shall be evaluated only by individual merit, fitness and capability.
AFI 36-1201, “Equal Employment Opportunity Complaints,” and AFI 36-2706, “Military Equal Opportunity Program,” outline how the Air Force will conduct its affairs while remaining free from unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment and will provide equal opportunity and treatment for all members, regardless of color, national origin, race, ethnic group, religion or gender, except as prescribed by statute or policy. In addition, the AFIs state civilians are also protected from discrimination based on age and physical and/or mental disability.
Let’s now take a look at one local guiding principle that supports both of these AFIs.
Gen. Roger Brady, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, states in his EO strategy, “Our responsibility to each other is to provide a workplace and living environment free from discrimination and harassing behavior. The standard is mutual respect, plain and simple. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Commanders and leaders at every level must seek ways to embrace diversity and foster an environment of inclusion – not exclusion. Let your organizations know that we, the leadership of USAFE, have zero tolerance for violations of equal opportunity, and will quickly address and correct violations.”
Each commander, from General Brady all the way to your respective unit commanders, have similar EO policies or OIs. It spans all numbered Air Forces, wings and subordinate units in our Air Force community.
So by the time EO information is in your hands there should be no doubt how the DOD, Air Force, major command and unit commanders feel about and the lengths they will go to support the EO philosophy.
Now you have an understanding of the principles that govern EO and why policy letters and OIs are important and helpful in disseminating useful information. It’s the leadership’s responsibility to inform you of various issues via policy letters and OIs; however, it’s your responsibility to read them.
Reading and understanding these directives is imperative to keeping both active-duty servicemembers and civilians on track.
To read any of the EO policy letters in their entirety, contact your unit support staff, call the EO office at 489-8534 or e-mail 86aw.eo@ramstein.af.mil. To learn more about other policies or OIs that pertain to your unit, contact your first sergeant.
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When was the last time you picked up your unit’s policy letters or operating instructions and read them?
Furthermore, why do you think leadership creates policy letters and OIs? Why is it your responsibility to read them?
Commanders establish a framework of what’s acceptable or unacceptable within our Air Force communities or to simplify and support existing governing Air Force Instructions or guidance.
Policy letters and OIs can also contain leadership messages from senior officials on issues affecting the Air Force and its
members.
So, let’s begin by familiarizing you with one specific AFI – “Equal Opportunity and Treatment” – and how our local policies build on the guiding principles of the Department of Defense and the Air Force.
By beginning with the DOD’s basic instruction, you’ll see how each subsequent policy, down the chain of command, supports it’s over all meaning and finally ends up in an OI.
DOD instruction 1350.2 directs us to promote an environment free from personal, social or institutional barriers that prevent members from rising to the highest level of responsibility possible. It further directs that members shall be evaluated only by individual merit, fitness and capability.
AFI 36-1201, “Equal Employment Opportunity Complaints,” and AFI 36-2706, “Military Equal Opportunity Program,” outline how the Air Force will conduct its affairs while remaining free from unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment and will provide equal opportunity and treatment for all members, regardless of color, national origin, race, ethnic group, religion or gender, except as prescribed by statute or policy. In addition, the AFIs state civilians are also protected from discrimination based on age and physical and/or mental disability.
Let’s now take a look at one local guiding principle that supports both of these AFIs.
Gen. Roger Brady, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, states in his EO strategy, “Our responsibility to each other is to provide a workplace and living environment free from discrimination and harassing behavior. The standard is mutual respect, plain and simple. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Commanders and leaders at every level must seek ways to embrace diversity and foster an environment of inclusion – not exclusion. Let your organizations know that we, the leadership of USAFE, have zero tolerance for violations of equal opportunity, and will quickly address and correct violations.”
Each commander, from General Brady all the way to your respective unit commanders, have similar EO policies or OIs. It spans all numbered Air Forces, wings and subordinate units in our Air Force community.
So by the time EO information is in your hands there should be no doubt how the DOD, Air Force, major command and unit commanders feel about and the lengths they will go to support the EO philosophy.
Now you have an understanding of the principles that govern EO and why policy letters and OIs are important and helpful in disseminating useful information. It’s the leadership’s responsibility to inform you of various issues via policy letters and OIs; however, it’s your responsibility to read them.
Reading and understanding these directives is imperative to keeping both active-duty servicemembers and civilians on track.
To read any of the EO policy letters in their entirety, contact your unit support staff, call the EO office at 489-8534 or e-mail 86aw.eo@ramstein.af.mil. To learn more about other policies or OIs that pertain to your unit, contact your first sergeant.