by Bryan Ripple
Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute
2/15/2011 - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Equitable treatment of all people is a moral imperative, the director of the Air National Guard told new equal opportunity advisers at a graduation ceremony here Feb. 4.
"Our service members in the National Guard and Reserve are indeed our most valuable asset," Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt told 87 National Guard and Reserve graduates of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute's Equal Opportunity Advisor Reserve Component Program.
"As leaders we owe them our very best efforts, and it cannot be with closed minds that we undertake this endeavor," he said. "We cannot meet mission success without the expertise and dedication of our equal opportunity specialists and advisers."
EO programs have made important contributions to all Department of Defense service members and civilians serving in an environment of dignity, equality and respect, General Wyatt said.
General Wyatt highlighted a photo of Army National Guard Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, the 617th Military Police Company vehicle commander at Richmond, Ky., who received the Silver Star while deployed to Camp Liberty, Iraq.
Sergeant Hester is the first female Soldier since World War II to receive the Silver Star.
New and evolving legislation may change to allow full equal opportunity for women, including in combat, General Wyatt said.
"DEOMI graduates are the 'change agents' that help to educate people on the need -- the moral imperative -- to be equitable in our treatment of all people," General Wyatt said.
"Equal Opportunity Advisers recognize the responsibility to speak the truth in the face of adversity and injustice and are representatives of their commanders," he said.
