A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
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Be Careful Who You Make an IG Complaint Against Because They May Be the Judge In The Case
It’s been a while since I wrote last. I was on leave for three weeks then in the field for two. I wish I was at least half as talented as CJ is at joggling work, family life, and blogging.
On 18 April 2009, I wrote about the Army’s Equal Opportunity Program. In a nutshell, I claim the Army’s EO Program is littered with anti-white hate speech and has a pro-minority stance. For the last two years I questioned these policies to many Army Equal Opportunity Advisors (EOA). I even brought the issue up with my chain of command. Did anyone ever come to my aid? No. The unit EO office, Army Legal Assistance, my own chain of command, and the Army IG system stayed away from me like I had swine flu. In fact, I filed an IG complaint against the Army’s EO Program this past January. My claim focused on the critical terms used throughout the Army’s EO Program such as “racism,†“prejudice,†and “discriminationâ€. The Army’s definitions are worded to ensure that only white Soldiers can be racist, prejudice, and act out discrimination; minorities are completely exempt.  According to several equal opportunity advisors in Korea, and the numerous equal opportunity-related publications, minority Soldiers cannot be racist. A brigade equal opportunity advisor once told me that, “Blacks cannot be racist because it isn’t in their nature to be racist.â€
I received a letter a week ago from the US Army IG office stating that they referred my IG complaint against the Army’s EO Program to the Army’s EO Program. Does that make since? I made a complaint about the Army’s EO Program and the complaint is referred to the very organization that I am complaining about! Gee, I wonder what the outcome will be.
For more information about the Army’s IG system, please read CJ’s blog titled, Army IG System Unwieldy and Unhelpful (29 Apr 09).
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Lisa: I also met him on Are You Interested... and got the poems :-) If
CJ
Why is the Army suddenly turning on its own?
Pastor Ruth
Taking a stand when the odds (in this instance, political correctness, or in reality, lack of it) is difficult. But it is definitely the high road. Change will not happen in a vacuum of silence. Doing what is right is a difficult and usually lonely climb, because only those with courage are willing to go the distance. You are doing the right thing, but apparently few are willing to speak out. Hang in there, you are not alone, but you are on the front line of this issue and it may feel as if you are. Look behind you, others will step out because of your courage! Have faith and keep climbing!
TDB
I am confused on why you feel the topics of “racism” “prejudice” and “discrimination” is focused only on white Soldiers. I have conducted EO training to units and from all of my research, schooling, and training guidance that I have received, this is absolutely not true. This may be why you feel that you are being treated unfairly when bringing forth your complaint. In order for your Chain of Command to take action your complaint must be substaniated through an investigation. From what it sounds like, if you feel discriminated against due to the EO training that you are receiving, then it is a EO complaint, not an IG complaint. Therefore, IG was correct in the guidance they gave you. If you formally filed a EO complaint in reference to this issue, and it was unsubstaniated, then you have the option to appeal. Then your complaint will go to the next higher level in your Chain of Command. Hope this helps.
CJ
He tried to file an IG complaint but they wouldn’t take it – another violation of regulations. Now the very organization that violated regulation against whom the IG complaint was filed is going to determine their guilt or innocence. Art is not saying anything that isn’t substantiated through the EO documents. Maybe you should read them more thoroughly.
tashana
I have a question about eo an ig and i was wondering if someone can answer me. so heres the problem.
- i am being seen with the first sgt and he is upset because a third party told him about me being mistreated and that he needs to do something about it.he was more upset about the third party then the situation in hand. these are the problems i had from the first day i came to the unit and now. it has been 9 months so they had ample of time to fix it or get back to me.
-(this is the reason this happened to begin with) my sgt found out i had an appointment while i was in school and she wanted me to cancel it because i couldnt miss any hours so i did. i didnt miss class and i followed a direct order. but because a third party was concerned first sgt wanted to see me.
-i am a 92g but my secondary is 92y. problem is i have never went to school as a 92y.(supply)i came in the unit not flagged and a spc. promotable, but i was pregnant.at this point i felt like i will never get promoted because i have no training as a 92y and i will never progress in my carrer because while many people are getting recognize as doing a good job i am still learning the supply system which causes me to be looked at as slow.so basically no matter how many classes i take and no matter how hard i try no one will recognize me. besides if they didnt recognize me its the sgt who usually reccomends you for a promotion but the sgt is too busy thinking about herself and not the soldier.
-i used my chain of command from my sgt to plt sgt and the one higher then my plt sgt and many of times they would say ill let 1st sgt know and ill get back to you. none of them got back to me so i decided to use the walk in policy for the commander. the commander said it was a legit reason and he will get back to me.
- when i went to see first sgt he also threw it in my face saying i had the nerves to go to the commander asking to fix the situation when i cant even get my personal life in order. correct me if im wrong. if my sgts communicated with my first sgt to begin with all these problems wouldve never accumilated.so when he sees me he sees it as a whole big problem rather then a problem that couldve been fix over time.
can someone tell if this is a valid reason to go to the eo or ig.
jerry
If you think of all of this is this bad? Then try to be in the “National Guard” with all of what we have around us!. I refere the I.G as the(Iside Gulag) because this group only helps the corruption and makes sure that the numbers “doesn’t get tarnished for the state.
The I.G is the “brown shirts” of any officer who wants to get rid of any “type” of soldier who they seem that is “unfit” within there little “army?”
jerry
Here is something that everybody should remember about the I.G or E.O …
…the lie can go further than the truth!…
Robin
I am going through the exact same thing right now. My NCOIC, my section sergeant, and my EO advisor are all black and I feel that there is the same kind of racism going on in my company. I am a white female and am the only one who has to follow the standards. I am about to make an EO complaint but at a higher level. What you need to do is find the Department of the Army’s EO. Go to google and find their 800 number. If that doesnt work, then write a member of congress or have your family member contact the news.
mari
yes the EO and IG are unfair and biased, I was in korea when a cpt from kentucky back in sept 2000 when he said “that is his army and he could do what ever he want to and that girls DO NOT BELONG IN HIS ARMY” then I was put out the army from major lies he told about me, I still trying to fight this, I’m 46 yrs and disabled cause of my back yes army related and this will be my tenth year out of the best life I ever had and still hurts knowing that I am not in the army cause of the prejudice,racial,unfair,biased IG and EO. I will still be in the army