Elimination of the Military Equal Opportunity Representatives and Equal Opportunity Representative Course

1. This MARADMIN is to announce the Marine Corps' elimination of the Equal Opportunity Representatives (EOR) and Equal Opportunity Representative Course (EORC).
2. Background. Per references (a) and (b), the Equal Opportunity Advisors (EOAs) workforce was tailored to align with the Independent Review Commission recommendation which mandates the elimination of collateral duty billets for sexual violence (sexual assault and sexual harassment) positions.
3. General.  This MARADMIN announces changes to ref (d) which required EORs to attend the EORC. Effective immediately, EORs and the EORCs are no longer authorized. Reference (a) requires that Military Equal Opportunity (MEO) Program personnel attend and graduate the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institution (DEOMI).
4. Elimination of EORs. Reference (b) mandates the removal of collateral duty sexual violence response personnel with the exception for ships, submarines, and isolated installations.
4.a. Manpower Plans and Policy Division has authorized a DEOMI trained collateral duty (CD) EOA for the Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU).
4.b. In accordance with Reference (b) other commands that are geographically dispersed and more than 50 miles from a military installation may request an exception to have a CD EOA appointed.  Commands requesting CD EOAs are responsible for funding the cost of DEOMI training to include travel cost.
4.c. CD EOA candidates must meet the following requirements:
(1) Must meet the grade or rank requirement of SSgt through MGySgt.
(2) Have no adverse fitness reports in grade.
(3) Must not have a history of sexual assault and/or prohibited activities and conduct.
(4) Must have at least 18 months left on station after completion of DEOMI training.
4.d. Requests must be in the standard Naval Letter format and signed by the first general officer in the chain of command.  Request must be forwarded to MPE OMB email at MPE_EO@usmc.mil for approval.
5. Commanders at the O-5 and O-6 level may appoint an officer or staff non-commissioned officer in writing, as the Equal Opportunity Coordinator (EOC) to assist with designated administrative duties pertaining to the command MEO Program.  EOCs may support the command MEO Program by standing inspections, assisting with Memorandum of Agreements, be designated as the command Survey Administrator for the Defense Organizational Climate Survey, facilitate prohibited activities and conduct training, and provide MEO Program updates to the command.
5.a. EOCs are not authorized to conduct intakes or manage cases.  If a service member seeks out an EOC for official reporting, with the complainant's consent, the EOC shall provide a warm handoff to the servicing EOA.
5.b. EOCs are required to complete the approved M&RA training.  Previously trained EOR from 2019-2023 will be retroactively included in the eligible population and only require a brief from the servicing EOA on policy updates.  Any EORs trained prior to 2019 shall be required to obtain the approved EOC training.
5.c. Upon unit request, EOAs shall provide training to EOC candidates prior to assignment as an EOC to establish familiarity with reference (d) and to ensure EOC candidates successfully carry out EOC duties.  Upon successful completion of such training and appointment in writing, EOCs are authorized to serve in the EOC billet.
6. For additional questions, contact MPE at email: MPE_EO@usmc.mil, comm: 703-784-9371.
7. This MARADMIN applies to the Marine Corps Total Force.
8. Release authorized by Brigadier General, David R. Everly, Director, Manpower Plans & Policy Division.