Photo By Sgt. Cassandra Monroe | Air Force Master Sgt. James M. Bonner is the Equal Opportunity manager for Joint Task...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Air Force Master Sgt. James Bonner takes a new approach to equal opportunity by communicating with troopers at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
If an equal opportunity issue were to arise between co-workers, commands or individuals, most may not have a good action plan in place to assist with the correction of these issues, especially if the issues are within the command.
For those serving with Joint Task Force Guantanamo, there is a voice listening here at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
Air Force Master Sgt. James M. Bonner, the equal opportunity manager for JTF-GTMO, is a representative that is here to help.
Bonner handles cases involving discrimination and disparate treatment. He offers mediation, facilitation, and team building and communication sessions. He also visits troopers throughout JTF and the Naval Station, interacting with them and asking about any concerns that may affect their quality of life.
“I like to go out and talk to the troopers because it gives me a way to better gauge how they are doing here,” he said. “It also provides an opportunity for them to talk with me without having to come to my office, and they are more relaxed and the conversations are more open and honest.”
Topics discussed between him and the troopers range from the overall morale of troopers during their shifts to issues between male and female troopers at public areas, such as base gyms.
Sgt. Jay Craycraft, an external security force noncommissioned officer with the 128th Military Police Company, Alabama National Guard, feels that the presence that Bonner brings to the JTF force is strengthening the morale and makes troopers feel as if someone is listening to their concerns.
“It actually makes you feel pretty good knowing that your leadership actually cares about the troopers he said. “It makes it easier to bring issues up now that we know that there’s someone we can talk to.”
If troopers do have an equal opportunity issue, there are ways to handle them. Bonner recommends speaking with the alleged offender first because individuals sometimes don’t realize their behavior is offensive. The next level would be your immediate supervisor and then your first sergeant.
“We prefer to give your leadership first opportunity to handle your concern within your unit before we take it to the next level of supervision,” said Bonner. “If leadership is the basis for their concern,they can come directly to my office and we can discuss a plan of action and how we can rectify the situation.”
After the issues are brought up to his equal opportunity office, depending on the severity of the issue, the commander will personally take care of the issue or he will appoint an investigative officer.
JAG will also get involved, and with the commander, will recommend further actions against the perpetrator. Although these processes may take time, Bonner wants troopers to know that he does try to take the complaints further up the chain as quickly and swiftly as he can.
“I want the troops to know that they are being heard and I do bring their concerns to the proper level of leadership,” said Bonner. “The troops are our most valuable resource and I want them to know everything they do is important to leadership and to the mission.”
Bonner also urges troopers to know their audience when joking with friends and with colleagues. Although the issue of equal opportunity may bring bad news, Bonner has reasons to find positives in his job every day.
“One of the things I like about my job is I get to see the results of my work and how it hopefully has improved that trooper’s life,” he said. “I look forward to meeting troops from all the branches of service and learning how their jobs fit into the mission we do here in the JTF. This maybe the only time I will be in this type of setting where all branches are represented and are working together to accomplish the same goal.”
| Date Taken: | 07.30.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2013 15:36 |
| Story ID: | 111594 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Hometown: | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 82 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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