The Army's Equal Employment Opportunity program exists to ensure a discrimination-free Army environment. The Equal Employment Opportunity program provides employees with a right and a procedure for redress in cases where they feel they have suffered discrimination.
Active duty Soldiers can find information on the web.U.S. Army Hawaii Equal Opportunity webpage
Mission
Eliminate unlawful discrimination in Hawaii Army activities.
Vision
A workplace where people trust that they are treated fairly and empowered to achieve their best.
25th ID & USARHAW Equal Opportunity Office
Be sure your complaint is MEO related: (Race, Color, Religion, Sex (to include pregnancy), National Origin, Sexual Orientation, and harassment which includes hazing, bullying, and other discriminatory harassment.)
Attempt to communicate your concerns to the harasser: (The complainant is not required to confront the harasser; however, it is encouraged).
Did you give your chain of command an opportunity to resolve the issues? (Soldiers have the right to visit the EO Office to voice their complaints of unlawful discrimination, harassment, bullying, and/or hazing; however, we encourage Soldiers to resolve the issue at the lowest level).
Have you contacted your unit Equal Opportunity Leader (EOL)? (If you cannot resolve your conflict with the harasser or chain of command contact your unit EOL).
If assistance is still needed, contact your EO Advisor (EOA).
Keep in mind that the EO Advisor provides advice and makes recommendations to commanders; and will provide assistance to you through the complaint process. It is the commander's program.
Be honest and don't provide misleading information. [IAW AR 600-20, CH. 6-6: "Knowingly submitting a false complaint (a complaint containing information or allegations that the complainant knew to be false) may be punishable under the UCMJ."] Remember a complaint must be supported.
Report inappropriate behavior without initiating a full investigation. This may be appropriate for minor infractions, where complainant simply wants behavior stopped.
Call your Equal Opportunity Hot Line at your installation to clarify whether an incident or behavior qualifies as harassment or discrimination.
Who Can File A Complaint?
If you are:
- A United States citizen,
- An Army civilian employee, or
- An applicant for employment with the U.S. Army in Hawaii
And you feel you have been discriminated against because of:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex (including sexual harassment)
- National Origin
- Age (over 40)
- Disability – Mental or Physical
- Genetic Information
- Reprisal
Complaint Timeline
A complainant must contact the EEO counselor within 45 calendar days unless otherwise stated.
The counselor tries by working with the complainant and an organization to affect an informal resolution.
The complainant may choose an alternative dispute resolution method such as mediation by an outside party.
If the counselor or mediation does not resolve the situation, the complainant then has the right to file a formal complaint.
The complainant makes a complaint in writing and submits it to the EEO office not later than 15 days after a final interview with the counselor.
The EEO officer will review complaints for acceptance and request a Department of Defense investigation.
The complainant may request an EEO commission hearing, or a final decision from the Department of the Army.
The complainant may withdraw from the administrative process and go to Federal District Court after 180 days since the filing of a formal complaint.
Note: If there is a resolution at any stage, the complaint process is terminated. The complainant may withdraw the complaint at any time.
Resources
- Anti-Harassment
- Army Equal Employment Opportunity Regulations
- Army Regulation 690-600: Complaints Process
- Equal Employment Opportunity Intranet Site ✪
- No Fear Act