The Coast Guard's civil rights mission is to ensure that all in the Service are treated fairly with dignity and compassion. The military civil rights program serves to ensure the equal and just treatment of all personnel; to identify, correct and eliminate illegal discrimination. The Military Civil Rights Counselor/Facilitator's (MCRC/F) efforts directly affect the adequacy, effectiveness and efficiency of the Coast Guard's military Equal Opportunity (EO) programs and civil rights for all military personnel.
The MCRC/F trains, administers and advises superiors, peers and subordinates regarding the Coast Guard's Military Civil Rights program. The position requires thorough knowledge of Coast Guard civil rights policies and programs; instructive, administrative, management and consulting skills, and knowledge of Coast Guard military personnel policies and regulations. The MCRC/F independently coordinates and conducts military human relations training, conducts inquiries into informal complaints of discrimination, counsels complainants, and facilitates mediation and resolution of informal complaints. He or she also assists complainants with formal complaints of discrimination; advises individuals and commands on military civil rights issues; provides information on cultural programs, and manages a human relations training and travel budget. The MCRC/F serves as the field-level expert for military civil rights and equal opportunity for a geographically dispersed military workforce. He or she is responsible for military equal opportunity and civil rights within the same Coast Guard area of responsibility (AOR) established for his or her commander or Commanding Officer. MCRC/F duty requires frequent travel by car and Coast Guard vessels and/or aircraft throughout the assigned AOR to all work sites for training and counseling and travel outside the AOR as a certified mediator. MCRC/F duty is complex and demanding, requiring the member's full-time commitment. Therefore, collateral duties will not be assigned to the MCRC/F unless those extra duties are approved by Commandant (G-HI). The normal tour of duty is four years.
Qualifications
Note: The below qualification standards are in addition to the general Coast Guard Special Duty Assignment qualification standards.
1. Must be in pay grade E-6 or above.
2. Must be interviewed and approved for MCRC/F duty by Commandant (G-HI), or designee. Commandant (G-HI) is the Director of the Military and Civilian Internal Programs Directorate, Civil Rights Directorate, Coast Guard Headquarters.
3. Must be sponsored by a current MCRC/F prior to the Commandant, (G-HI) interview. Ideally, the MCRC/F's AOR should include the applicant's unit. The primary purpose of the sponsorship is to ensure applicants are capable and know the requirements of the job.
4. Must be a graduate of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) Equal Opportunity Advisor Course prior to assuming full-time MCRC/F responsibilities.
5. Should have a thorough knowledge of Coast Guard mission responsibilities, organization and management structure, chain of command and workforce composition.
6. Must have demonstrated public speaking skills. The MCRC/F briefs all levels of the chain of command on vital Civil Rights issues.
7. Must have demonstrated written communications skills. Experience writing letters, point papers and decision briefs is highly desirable and recommended. Must also be skilled in fact finding and negotiation.
Submitting Requests
Members desiring MCRC/F duty should submit their request on an Assignment Data Card (CG-3698A) to Commander (CGPC-epm-2) via their commanding officer no earlier than one year prior to completion of their present tour of duty.
Training
1. Members selected for their first tour in MCRC/F duty will attend the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) 15-week Equal Opportunity Advisor Course prior to assuming full-time MCRC/F duties.
2. Members who have not completed the Coast Guard Basic Instructor and Course Design courses should anticipate attending these courses. Members should also anticipate attending Equal Employment Opportunity, Alternate Dispute Resolution and Mediation training.
Assignment
Commander (CGPC-epm-2) controls the assignment of enlisted personnel to and from MCRC/F duties. After an MCRC/F assignment, members may transfer to duties within their rating or to another MCRC/F assignment upon re-release from their assignment officer. On completing duty in their rating, members may be considered for another MCRC/F tour depending on Service needs.
