Vance MEO Office is AETC Small Base MEO Office of the Year

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Agneta Murnan
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  The Vance Air Force Base Military Equal Opportunity office received command recognition as the Air Education and Training Command MEO Office of the Year in the small base category for the second consecutive year.

Although the office was manned at 66 percent of its staff, the award showed how the team was "able to do the job that needed to be done, service the community and have folks know that they can come to us," said Master Sgt. Spencer Parker, superintendent of the 71st Flying Training Wing MEO office.

To Captain Richard Milton, chief of MEO, it is important that people know that the MEO office is not the "political correctness police." Citing Air Force Instruction 36-2706, Military Equal Opportunity Program, he explained that the "job is to be the guardian of people's dignity and worth."

Captain Milton and Sergeant Parker said there were four key elements that contributed to their success: a proactive approach, teamwork, the support of wing and squadron leadership and trust.

In order to be proactive and foster teamwork, the MEO office worked closely with the base Cultural Committee, which recently sponsored the African American Heritage Luncheon in conjunction with the Vance AF60 Task Force. This has enabled the MEO office to communicate base-wide messages about diversity and foster teamwork in making work environments more conducive.

Captain Milton and Sergeant Parker agreed that the support of base leadership was vital to the success of the MEO program; they thanked Col. Richard Klumpp, Jr. for his backing.

The MEO office strived to foster the last element of trust by sharing a sense of conviction and sincerity with others. "Being genuine in MEO is important. To support the MEO program, individuals must actually advocate the program," told the duo. During the past year, the MEO office worked with active duty, reserve, contracted and civilian personnel. The office also conducted briefings at the Professional Development Center for non-commissioned officers and senior non-commissioned officers.

The MEO office wanted to recognize 2nd Lt. Grasse, a casual student in the office for the past 6 months, who has served as a liaison to the office for special observances and assisted the office in setting up the office's website, "Community of Practices."

The MEO office is located in Bldg 500, for more information please call 213-6191.