RELEASE NUMBER: 130626-01
DATE POSTED: JUNE 26, 2013
USASOC EEO Office strives to cultivate diverse workforce
by Gerald Green,
USASOC Public Affairs
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, June 26, 2013) – On July 26, 2010, President Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13548, which provides that the Federal Government must become a model for the employment of Individuals with Disabilities (IWD) and Individuals with Targeted Disabilities (IWTD) setting numerical hiring goals for IWD at 100,000 hires within five years.
“It is an honor to serve for such a great organization,” said Anthony A. Fuller, an Equal Employment Opportunity specialist in U.S. Army Special Operations Command.. "As the Disability Program Manager (DPM), I will be visible, an advocate for the Disability Program, the resource for disability related issues, and partner with both internal and external offices. This is a joint effort between the DPM, leadership and the general workforce.”
The EEOs mission is to advise and assist the USASOC commanders, managers and supervisors in the development of a competent and diverse civilian workforce, free of bias, through management of all components of the EEO Program. The vision standard focuses on the USASOC being an employer committed to developing and retaining its highly qualified and mission capable workforce.
The EEOC defines targeted disabilities as deafness, blindness, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, convulsive disorders, mental retardation, mental illness and genetic or physical conditions affecting the limbs and/or spine.
“USASOC has done extremely well on hiring IWD, but we have work to do on the hiring of IWTD,” said Fuller.
In line with ARSOF 2022, investing in human capital includes building a better civilian workforce. Individuals with Targeted Disabilities are an underutilized source of excellent, highly motivated applicants that are readily available.
EEO focuses on hiring talented applicants with disabilities that in effect helps the command meet the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act to hire and advance people with disabilities. The command understands that a diverse workforce is one of its greatest assets and redefines the importance of recruiting, retaining; USASOC strives to cultivate both a diverse workforce and an inclusive environment, free or bias and discrimination, Fuller said.
The EEOs focus for the quarter of third quarter 2013 is to improve the participation rate of individuals with targeted disabilities developing and engaging the best employees possible.
On behalf of the EEO Office, the DPM would like to invite all USASOC employees to participate in the first ever Disability Poster Contest.
The theme of the poster is “Eliminating the Stigma of Disabilities”. The winning poster will be featured in our next quarterly newsletter, displayed on the EEO Portal Page, and posted throughout the command.
The format and submission rules for the Disability Poster Contest require one page, PDF, letter size (8.5”x11”) file.
Questions concerning about submitting a poster entry should contact the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at 910-432-2841. Entries must be submitted by close of business on July 15, 2013. All submissions must be reflective of the command, must be original, and must be created by the employee themselves or their immediate family members.
The poster submission file must also include the employees’ name, directorate, and date submitted. Submissions will be judged in the following categories: theme interpretation, artistic merit and originality.