Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      group of peopleCapt. Mohamed Dharas, 97th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight commander, leads a meeting of the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., June 8 2021. Dharas is the manager of the D&I program for the base and the group is tasked with providing a foundation for understanding and long-term change for Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cody Dowell)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        photos on a tablePhotos of African American military members are displayed at a table, Feb. 26, 2021, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The photos were one of the many displays at the 97th Air Mobility Wing Black History Expo. The event was one of several assisted by the base Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kayla Christenson)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        members huddle in a groupAirmen from the 97th Air Mobility Wing celebrate at the end of the Altus Air Force Base Color Run, June 25, 2021, at Altus AFB, Okla. Members of the 97th AMW participated in the run as the final event for Pride Month. The event was one of several assisted by the base Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kayla Christenson)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Altus AFB ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ group targets education, discoursePublished July 29, 2021
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Cody Dowell
                    
                    
                    Altus Air Force Base Public Affairs
            **ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) --**Recruitment is the lifeblood of the United States military. It brings people from different origins and backgrounds together to be trained and assigned to military missions around the world. Similarly, many leaders through the military place great value in **diversity** and the dynamic elements it infuses into a unit.
The Diversity and Inclusion Working Group at **Altus Air Force Base** was established in March 2020. It was tasked with providing a foundation for understanding and long-term change for Airmen. Their vision is to lead safe, productive forums on disparities and biases that create lasting avenues of communication and education for all Air Force members. Ultimately, their goal is to raise awareness on issues that affect Airmen, and create a lasting forum for all Airmen that results in respectful discourse.
“The most recent ‘push’ of D&I isn’t a new concept,” said Capt. Mohamed Dharas, 97th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight commander and Altus AFB D&I Working Group manager. “D&I is important to ensure our military is operating on all cylinders. A room of 100 Capt. Dharas’ wouldn’t work well because there would be too many like-minded people. In order for our military to sustain its dominance, we need to make sure that there is a diverse group of people at the table where big decisions are made.”
The group is also tasked with the planning of monthly special observances on base. One of the group’s active members, Airman 1st Class Amanda Edwards, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics planner, says that it is vital to understand the perspective of others, while in the armed forces.
“Diversity and inclusion, especially in the military, is important because it provides perspective through a new set of lenses,” Edwards added. “This is essential to have a healthy balance of voices. It gives others the opportunity to deepen the understanding of each other. The military is widely known for its diversity; we recruit individuals from every walk of life. It is only right that we encourage and provide a productive environment to tackle issues and ensure everybody gets the representation they deserve.”
Edwards goes on to explain that through communication and education of one another’s background and culture allows for a more harmonious work environment.
“Unfortunately, D&I seems to have a negative connotation in the workplace due to it being a ‘touchy subject.’ We desire to change that false narrative and educate those who wish to be involved,” Edwards explained. “There are great benefits from implementing D&I that include, but are not limited to: innovation, creativity, happier employees, increased productivity, understanding counterparts, and greater interpersonal relationships.”
The biggest pushes from their group are education and base events that instill inclusion. In order to do this, funding and participation is provided by different private organizations from the base and local community.
“We are working on strengthening our relationship with the community of Altus (AFB) to increase the bonds between the base and community,” Dharas said. “They were a huge reason why we were able to hold our **Juneteenth celebration**. We look forward to working with the community more to improve the quality of life for Altus (AFB) Airmen, but step one is education to foster a safe environment.”
Dharas and the D&I team discuss topics such as critical race theory, affirmative action, history of special observances and many more subjects that aim to build well-rounded Airmen. They regularly meet every second and fourth Thursday of the month at noon in the Altus AFB exchange multi-purpose room. Anyone with access to the installation is able to join the team to help build the foundation for understanding and long-term change for Airmen.AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



culture 



readiness 



diversity 



inclusion 



One Air Force 



working group 



Altus AFB 



AETC 



Air Education and Training Command Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil