Courtesy Photo | Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Altman (left), command sergeant major of 4th Advise and...... read more read more
Story by: Staff Sgt. Tanya Thomas
CAMP RAMADI, Iraq— Fourteen soldiers assigned to the 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division-Center, have become the brigade’s newest equal opportunity leaders after graduating from a two-week class held Nov. 2 at Camp Ramadi, Iraq.
“The equal opportunity leader is essential to the commander’s Equal Opportunity Program, and a key element in handling complaints at the lowest level,” said Sfc. Michelle Cogdell, 4th AAB deployed sexual assault response coordinator, during the graduation ceremony held at the Ramadi Event Center.
“The students were challenged not only to learn about equal opportunity, but about people in general, their classmates, and most importantly, themselves,” she said.
After completing a 60-hour course which included producing a cultural and special observance program, and exams ranging from racism and sexism to religious accommodations and extremists, the class graduates are now qualified to serve as company- or battalion-level equal opportunity leaders.
“Everyone learned something from this class,” said Sfc. Cheryl Maddox, 4th AAB equal opportunity adviser and EOL course lead instructor. “We have a saying, ‘Keep your bag closed.’ The students learned that you can’t allow your personal feelings and beliefs to interfere with interacting with soldiers.”
For one new equal opportunity leader, the course, she said, was definitely worthwhile.
“I got to know others, and I learned how to better interact with other people,” said Staff Sgt. Markita Hagans, with the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th AAB, and a Norfolk, Va., native.
Maddox said the class was especially important as EOL's are in larger demand during deployment.
“It’s always good to have more active EOL's,” she said. “Here [during deployment] we are more close-held. Statistically, our sexual harassment numbers increase during a deployment, I think partially because we live in such a close environment. The EOL's are the eyes and ears of a commander, so the more that we have, the better a commander can see what is going on in [his or her] unit.”
Maddox said there are now about 60 equal opportunity leaders in the 4th AAB.
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.08.2010 05:29 |
| Story ID: | 59637 |
| Location: | CAMP RAMADI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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