Photo By Staff Sgt. Kimberly Johnson | Ehab (Omar) Menshaw (right), linguist and cultural advisor for 1st Armored Division,...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD – “The Army is a representation of our society and our society is diverse—therefore, the Army is diverse.”
Those words from Sfc. Michael Patterson, senior equal opportunity adviser and deployed sexual assault prevention and response coordinator for 1st Armored Division, United States Division – Center and a Paris, Ark., native, highlight the importance of equal opportunity and celebration of different cultures in the military.
In keeping with national observances of cultural heritage, the 1st Armd. Div. equal opportunity office sponsored its last observance while deployed in Iraq, Native American and Alaskan Native Heritage month, Nov. 19, at the Iron Oasis Dining Facility at Camp Liberty, Iraq.
“Everything the equal opportunity office does is a mandated national observance,” Patterson said. “So we [organize] commemorative observances for different races and ethnicities to educate people on the contributions of what other races and ethnicities have contributed to the making of America.
“Because right, wrong or indifferent, [the majority of] written history, is white history. So, [for example], someone can go through their entire academic career, from grade school, all the way through college and never know all the contributions that many African-Americans or Native Americans have played in the building [of America], unless they seek the information for themselves. Equal opportunity is important because everybody deserves fair and equal treatment.”
Patterson said highlighting diversity is not a bad thing, as long as it is done to recognize and celebrate differences and educate people on different cultures.
“I want our Soldiers to look forward to learning about other people, their rich history and contributions to our great Army,” said Lt. Col. Sabrina Baker, equal opportunity program manager with USD-C, and a Montgomery, Ala., native.
In addition to national observances, the EO office is also a tool for the command to use to keep everything nondiscriminatory between troops.
Patterson said the equal opportunity office also exists to advise commanders on all aspects of, not only equal opportunity, but diversity management and cross-cultural education.
“We are there as a sounding board for soldiers to voice concerns and advise commanders on how to keep everything fair and equal,” Patterson said.
Patterson said as the end of 1st Armd. Div.’s deployment nears, it has been the work of the many volunteers who have made the equal opportunity program a success this year.
| Date Taken: | 11.19.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2010 02:23 |
| Story ID: | 60854 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, USD-C celebrates Native American heritage and military diversity, by SSG Kimberly Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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