Equal Opportunity is a Leadership Issue
Abstract
In spite of this admonition, lower level commanders often fall short in fulfilling the high expectations dictated by the Commandant. It is my assertion that, equal opportunity is not, as it should be, handled as a leadership issue. Cursory attention is paid to this important matter by virtue of superficial annual training consisting of the showing of a brief video that glazes over the issue. The goal of this wholly inadequate training is the promotion of a "harmonious" work environment yet, in reality, treats the issue with kid gloves. Equal opportunity does not warrant more intense scrutiny or become a concern unless an incident occurs. It is not treated as a proactive measure requiring continual attention by and for Marines resulting in a more expanded situational awareness. In a situation where a Marine is being accused of being insensitive, comprehensive follow-up training is not required, but more often there is a direct move towards a harsh or severe punishment. The Unit is then subjected to an emergency Professional Military Education where there is an emphasis on the purpose of equal opportunity. Such a reaction is, in my estimation, a "knee jerk" reaction with a "band-aid" approach to solving a decidedly more complex problem. The shortfalls in the program make any isolated incident a major issue rather than a manageable problem that could be circumvented through proactive training.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 08, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA505195
Entities
People
- Alphonso Capers Jr.
Organizations
- Marine Corps University