Military Equal Opportunity chief speaks about the dangers of Airmen associating with hate groups

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Vincent Petroff
  • 436th Airlift Wing Military Equal Opportunity
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Like many children, I never experienced racial discrimination as a boy nor did I witness random acts of violence. I grew up in a small town where it appeared that everyone treated everyone else the same; a place where racial division and hatred were practically non-existent.

I never saw this hatred until years later in television shows depicting groups of supremacists.

History illustrates many unfortunate examples from our earliest beginnings as a Nation when brothers fought one another on their own soil. However, discrimination did not die after the Civil War ended.

Now, over 150 years later, thanks to proactive awareness and education, our Airmen have chosen to shun racism and organizations that support those behaviors. Our vigilance and training has been the key to success.

Many people may ask what drives a group to violence or discrimination. I could never comprehend this, but today, I understand that hate-group participation is so serious that DoD and Air Force policies prohibit members from active hate participation.

In fact, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, chief of staff of the Air Force, recently wrote, "Not only does (participation in gangs or supremacist groups) run counter to our core values; it fosters divisive behavior and destroys good order, morale and discipline."

Participation in supremacist groups is counter to our core values. We swore to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. This foundation of our Nation guarantees freedom for all regardless of race, color or creed.

Likewise, hatred fosters disruptive behavior. This dissension and disunity can create an atmosphere where cooperation and respect for authority are void. For anyone who has ever had to restore unity to a divided organization, you know what an incredibly challenging task it can be. The unit's good order, morale and discipline will be the first to go. Morale supports our will to fight the Global War on Terror.

As we continue to fight the GWOT, our mission accomplishment requires everyone acting as a team. The mission is just too important. I ask you, how far will a team go whose members hate one another or fail to cooperate?

I personally believe as a senior NCO and human relations professional, that the spirit of hate is like a cancer; if allowed to grow, it will spread until it is commonly accepted. We cannot afford it.

With cooperation and respect for the standard, maybe, just maybe, our ranks can become like the small American town I remember growing up in, where everyone treats everyone else the same.