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AFH 1 · Chapter 20 · Section 20.18

Equal Opportunity

Part of Customs, Courtesies, and Tradition · 2 sections · ~615 words · WAPS PFE study material

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Equal Opportunity — Foundation, Hotline, and Program Objectives

EO Program Foundation

EO Program Foundation
The USAF Equal Opportunity Program fosters and supports equal opportunity and must be carried out in the day-to-day actions of all personnel.

Zero Tolerance

Zero Tolerance
The USAF will NOT tolerate:
  • Unlawful discrimination
  • Harassment
  • Reprisal against individuals who engage in protected activity

Member Responsibility

Member EO Responsibility
Airmen must actively make workplace professionalism a top priority and take proactive steps to prevent and eliminate unlawful discriminatory or harassment behavior.

Commander/Supervisor Charge

Cmdr/Supervisor Charge
Commanders and supervisors are charged with:
  • Taking immediate and appropriate actions to address inappropriate behaviors or allegations once they are made aware
  • Encouraged to consult with their local equal opportunity office before initiating action to resolve such concerns

Reference

AFI 36-2710 Reference
AFI 36-2710, *Equal Opportunity Program*.

EO Hotline

AF EO Hotline
The Air Force Sexual Harassment/Unlawful Discrimination (24-hour) Hotline:

- 1-888-231-4058

Hotline Purpose

Hotline Purpose
Established to ensure USAF personnel can easily and freely:
  • Report to proper Equal Opportunity authorities any allegations of sexual harassment or discrimination
  • Provide information on sexual harassment and equal opportunity issues

EO Program Objectives

EO Primary Objective
The primary objective of the Equal Opportunity Program is to:
  • Eradicate unlawful discrimination
  • Foster a positive human relations environment

EO Office Services

EO Office Services
To this end, Equal Opportunity offices at every installation stand ready to assist:
  • Individuals
  • Supervisors
  • Commanders

…with eradicating every form of unlawful discrimination and harassment from the workplace.

Service Categories

EO Service Categories
To improve the USAF human relations environment, Equal Opportunity offices offer an array of:
  • Counseling
  • Mediation
  • Education
  • Assessment
  • Training
  • General assistance
  • Complaint resolution services

Equal Opportunity — Unlawful Discrimination

Unlawful Discrimination Defined

Unlawful Discrimination Definition
Unlawful discrimination can include the use of disparaging terms regarding an individual's:
  • Birthplace
  • Ancestry
  • Culture
  • Linguistic characteristics common to a specific ethnic group

Protected Characteristics

Protected Characteristics
The use of terms that degrade or connote negative statements pertaining to:
  • Race
  • Color
  • Religion
  • National origin
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Genetic information
  • Mental or physical disability

…can constitute unlawful discrimination.

Forms of Discrimination

Forms of Discrimination
These terms include:
  • Insults
  • Printed material
  • Visual material
  • Signs, symbols, posters, or insignia

Unlawful Discrimination Against Military Members

Military Discrimination Definition
Unlawful discrimination against military members includes any unlawful action that denies equal opportunities to persons or groups based on:
  • Race
  • Color
  • Religion
  • National origin
  • Sex

Forms Covered

Military Discrimination Forms
This type of discrimination includes:
  • Verbal forms
  • Physical forms
  • Non-verbal forms
  • Social media

Always Unacceptable

Always Unacceptable
For military members, unlawful discrimination is unacceptable, on- or off-base, 24 hours a day.

Unlawful Discrimination Against DoD Civilian Employees

Civilian Discrimination Definition
Unlawful discrimination against civilian employees includes any unlawful employment practice that occurs when an employer:
  • Fails or refuses to hire or promote
  • Discharges or otherwise discriminates against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment
  • Limits, segregates, or classifies employees or applicants for employment in a way that deprives or tends to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affects status as an employee

Civilian Protected Characteristics

Civilian Protected Characteristics
Because of:
  • Race
  • Color
  • Religion
  • National origin
  • Sex
  • Age (40 or older)
  • Genetic information
  • Physical or mental disability
  • Reprisal

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