What is it?

The Army’s Equal Opportunity (EO) program formulates, directs, and sustains a comprehensive effort to maximize human potential and ensure fair treatment for military personnel, family members, and civilians without regard to race, color, gender, religion, age, disability, or national origin.

Ultimately, the Department’s effort is to cultivate and sustain an environment free of unlawful discrimination and offensive behavior. This policy applies to Army personnel on and off the installation, during duty and non-duty hours, and in working, living, and recreational environments.

Why is this important to the Army?

The Army is a vast organization with a global presence. One of its central sources of strength is the diversity of its military and civilian members—approximately 1.4 million personnel. Cultivating and sustaining an environment of inclusion is an important component of the Army’s overall strategy for human capital. This and other Army-wide diversity efforts will enable us to remain competitive in attracting and sustaining a highly skilled and diverse military and civilian workforce.