Air Force Military Equal Opportunity (MEO) Program
The primary objective of the MEO program is to improve mission effectiveness by promoting an environment free from personal, social, or institutional barriers that prevent Air Force members from rising to the highest level of responsibility possible based on their individual merit, fitness, and capability. Air Force policy is to conduct its affairs free from unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment. The MEO program seeks to eliminate unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment against military members, family members, and retirees based on race, color, sex, national origin, or religion. The MEO office assists commanders at all levels by conducting equal opportunity programs and teaching human relations education (HRE) classes at every Air Force installation. The DoD Human Goals Proclamation forms the basis for the Air Force MEO program. It stipulates that equal opportunity and equity in civilian employment regardless of race, color, sex, religion, or national origin will be provided as an integral part of readiness.
Unlawful Discrimination
This type of discrimination is based on race, color, national origin, religion, or sex that is not otherwise authorized by statute or policy. Unlawful discrimination degrades human beings, negatively impacts the mission, and violates Air Force policy.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when any of the following situations occur:
- Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly as a term or condition of a person’s job, pay, or career.
- Submission to or rejection of such conduct by a person is used as a basis for career or employment decisions affecting that person.
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.
MEO Complaint Procedures
The MEO staff encourages military members to try and resolve allegations of unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment at the lowest level or within their chain of command. Staff members also advise members of alternate complaint channels. Military members have several options available to assist them. They may lodge an MEO informal or formal complaint of unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment with the MEO office.
Informal Complaints. When an individual elects to file an informal complaint, he or she can address the concern directly with the offender, request intervention by a coworker, or use his or her chain of command to resolve the concern.
Formal Complaints. If the discriminatory behavior is not resolved, the complainant can opt to file a formal complaint with the MEO office. When a formal complaint is filed, an MEO staff member will objectively clarify the allegation. The staff member will ask the complainant to outline specific discriminatory behaviors exhibited by the alleged offender. Allegations must be detailed, describing the unlawful behavior, any witnesses, member’s organization, dates, time of occurrence, and location of the alleged behavior. The MEO staff member will inform the alleged offender’s commander that a complaint has been filed.
Complaint Clarification. The MEO office conducts a complaint clarification for all formal complaints under the MEO purview. The clarification will determine whether unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment has occurred. If unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment is confirmed, the case is forwarded to the legal office for review and on to the offender’s commander for actions deemed appropriate. The complaint clarification process takes up to 20 duty days as follows: 9 duty days for the MEO office to conduct a clarification; 6 duty days for legal review; and 5 duty days for commander action. The MEO staff will keep the complainant and his or her commander updated regarding the status of the case until closed.
Above information derived from AFPAM36-2241V1
