Equal Opportunity Office

If you are the victim, you may:

• Make an informal complaint. Report inappropriate behavior without initiating a full investigation. This may be most appropriate for minor infractions when the victim simply wants the behavior stopped.
  
  If the behavior persists, you may file a formal written complaint on a DA Form 7279 with any of the following agencies: Chain of command, equal opportunity advisor, inspector general, housing referral office, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, military police or criminal investigator, chaplain or medical agency. Complaints must be filed within 60 days of the incident. Complaints made after 60 days may be pursued at the commander's discretion.
• Call the Fort Meade Equal Opportunity Office at 301-677-6687 to clarify whether an incident or behavior qualifies as sexual harassment or discrimination.
• File a formal written complaint on a DA Form 7279 with any of the following agencies: Chain of command, equal opportunity advisor, inspector general, housing referral office, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, military police or criminal investigator, chaplain or medical agency. Complaints must be filed within 60 days of the incident. Complaints made after 60 days may be pursued at the commander's discretion.

• Complaints, except those filed with the I.G., must be acted upon within three calendar days. Complaints filed with an agency against a member of the chain of command will be referred to the next higher commander the chain. All formal complaints will be reported within 72 hours to the first General Courts-Martial Convening Authority in the chain of command. Provide a progress report to the GCMCA 20 days after the date on which the investigation commenced and 14 days thereafter until completion.
• The commander or the investigating officer appointed by the commander has 14 calendar days to investigate the allegations. The commander will meet with the victim and the subject(s) of the complaint to discuss the outcome and results. A 30-day extension may be granted from the next higher commander if circumstances require it. Further extensions can be approved only by the first general officer in the chain of command. Complainants must be notified of extensions.
• The complainant and/or subject(s) of the complaint have seven calendar days to appeal to the next higher commander if he or she is dissatisfied with the investigation results or actions taken. That commander has 14 days to act on the appeal and provide written feedback on the results. Final decisions on complaints/appeals not resolved at the brigade level rest with the General Courts-Martial Convening Authority.
• An assessment is conducted by the equal opportunity advisor 30 to 45 days after the final decision of the formal complaint (substantiated and unsubstantiated) to determine the effectiveness of any corrective actions taken and to detect and deter any incidents of reprisal. Reports and recommendations are submitted to the commander on a DA Form 7279-1 no later than 45 days following the final decisions made by the complainants.

• Equal Opportunity Leader Course student nomination and administrative data form
• Facilitator Course student nomination and administrative data form

Upcoming observances

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not a Day Off!" on Jan. 14, 2016 by 70th Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Wing
• Black History Month observance on Feb. 25, 2016, hosted by Defense Media Activity
• Women's History Month observance on March 18, 2016, hosted by Army Cyber Command
• Holocaust: Days of Remembrance observance on Apr. 21, 2016, hosted by the 902nd Military Intelligence Group
• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month observance on May 25, 2016, hosted by the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade
• Women's Equality Day observance "Celebrating Women's Right to Vote" on Aug. 25, 2016, hosted by U.S. Army Field Band
• Hispanic Heritage Month observance on Sept. 28, 2016, hosted by 704th Military Intelligence Brigade
• National American Indian Heritage Month observance on Nov. 16, 2016 by Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center

Coverage of previous observances

• Native American Heritage Month
• Making Diversity Work
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month w/ MSG(ret) Cedric King
• National Hispanic Heritage Month Observance
• Women's Equality Day