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Rock Solid Warrior: Tech. Sgt. Eumiko Egins

  • Published
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  
Rank/First & Last Name: TSgt Eumiko Egins

Deployed Unit: 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Equal Opportunity

Duty Title: Regional Equal Opportunity Director

Home unit/station: 71st Fighter Training Wing, Vance AFB, Okla.

Family's military heritage: My brother, Albert Marshall, four years in the Air Force; sister Shakeisha McDuffie, 12 yrs in the Army; and sister Roneisha Williams, 12 years in the Air Force, currently stationed at Kadena AFB, Japan.

What is your mission here? The mission of the Equal Opportunity Team is to ensure a discrimination and harassment free work environment for all personnel here and to ensure all Department of Defense personnel and coalition forces are provided a full and fair opportunity to contribute to the fullest extent of their ability in pursuing a career in their chosen profession. We also strive to establish meaningful partnerships with Army, Navy, Marines and coalition's forces and civilian personnel to ensure non-discrimination for all personnel here.
We also assist in creating an inclusive culture that embraces, values, and utilizes the diversity within our service and actively promotes fairness/Equal Opportunity in the workplace.

What are some of the best parts of your mission? Working with people and observing human behavior. Being cognizant of particular dynamics (positive or negative; covert or overt) that cause individuals to respond, react, and behave in the ways that they chose. To be aware of the abstract/unseen factors that guide leaders when making decisions and how that influences their followers (future leaders). And most of all, listening to what people don't say.

What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them? The phrase Equal Opportunity has negative connotations associated with it. Most people think EO is here to only filter/process complaints; in actuality that is just a portion of EO's responsibility. Changing that mindset/culture has been a challenge. However, the EO team has been able to overcome that by: 1) Highlighting the other portions of the EO program -identifying, preventing, and neutralizing actual/potential human relations issues or concerns that may impact mission readiness, lowest level resolution, conflict resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution; and 2) Interacting with the base populace outside of the EO arena (base activities-honor guard, rock cleanup, morale & wellness visits, SARC, IG, host nations office/representative)
How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? Honestly, it doesn't.

How many times have you deployed? Twice

What makes this deployment unique? The people

Why did you join the Air Force? To have a chance at surviving life's complications