Ohio National Guard News

Nearly 20 Soldiers graduate from
recent Equal Opportunity Leaders Course

By Ohio National Guard Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Employment Office

Eighteen Soldiers from the 73rd Troop Command and 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade attended and graduated from the Equal Opportunity Leaders Course Nov. 14-19, 2016, at the 147th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) on the Defense Supply Center Columbus campus in Columbus, Ohio. The 60-hour course equipped Soldiers with the training they needed in order to make them qualified equal opportunity leaders at their company- and battalion-level units. (Ohio National Guard photo)

Master Sgt. Michelle White (standing, center), senior state equal opportunity advisor noncommissioned officer, instructs students.

Maj. Shaun Robinson (standing, center), Ohio National Guard state equal employment manager, calls on students

COLUMBUS, Ohio (11/14/16) — Eighteen Soldiers from the 73rd Troop Command and 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade attended and graduated from the Equal Opportunity Leaders Course Nov. 14-19 at the 147th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) on the Defense Supply Center Columbus campus.

The 60-hour course consisted of a combination of lectures, interactive presentations, roleplaying exercises and group activities that equipped Soldiers with the training they needed in order to make them qualified equal opportunity leaders (EOLs) at their units.

“An EOL is the eyes and ears of the commander,” said Master Sgt. Michelle White, the senior equal opportunity advisor noncommissioned officer in the state and an EOLC instructor.

The Ohio National Guard Equal Opportunity policy protects Soldiers from discrimination in the following categories: race, color, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. Treatment of all personnel should be based solely on merit, fitness and capability in support of readiness, according to ONG policy.

“Our diversity is an asset, not something that divides us,” White said. “The Ohio National Guard is trying to educate people, and bring value to our many differences. EO, and Diversity and Inclusion (is about) learning to respect those differences.”

Maj. Shaun Robinson, state equal employment manager and another EOLC instructor, said one of the most important duties of an equal opportunity advisor (EOA) is to mentor equal EOLs in lower echelon units.

“EOLs are the primary advisors of the state EO program at the company and battalion levels,” Robinson said. “EOAs are the subject matter experts at the brigade (and above) level.”

All 18 EOLC graduates attended the Ohio National Guard’s National American Indian Heritage Month observance in November at Beightler Armory. Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general, spoke directly to the EOLs during the program on the importance of equal opportunity and diversity and inclusion to the future of the Ohio National Guard.

READ MORE on the Ohio National Guard’s Equal Employment Opportunity Office and Diversity and Inclusion program.