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Recommendations:
1. Equal Opportunity and Behavior Training DACOWITS recommends that the Secretary of Defense through appropriate Service Chiefs provide, emphasize and reinforce on a continuing basis, during service accession and subsequent training, instruction that provides:
(1) a clear understanding of what constitutes a climate conducive to respect for human dignity and maximum are readiness; and, (2) skills and strategies to respond to inappropriate behavior by subordinates, co-workers and superiors.
This training should clarify women's and men's rights to object to inappropriate behavior and their responsibility to create a professional environment that maximizes performance.
2. Equal Opportunity Climate In National Guard and Reserve Components DACOWITS recommends that the Secretary of Defense conduct a Defense Manpower Data Center "1995 Form B - Gender Issues" survey among members of the National Guard and Reserve components.If necessary, the survey should be modified to reflect unique characteristics of the Reserve components.
3. Mentoring DACOWITS recommends that all services, including National Guard and Reserve components, initiate a formal mentoring program to enhance leadership and professional development.The programs should encompass all grades, specialties, and accession programs.
4. Gender Discrimination DACOWITS recommends that the Secretary of Defense through appropriate Service Chiefs issue a written communication that:
(1) reinforces the importance of eliminating all aspects of gender discrimination, to include sexist behavior, crude and offensive remarks, as well as sexual harassment, that impede the full utilization of women, unit cohesion, and readiness; and,
(2) challenges commanders to explore new initiatives to sustain and enhance progress made to date.
5. New Positions DACOWITS recommends that the Secretary of Defense expand opportunities for women in field artillery by opening multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
6. Leadership Opportunities DACOWITS recommends that the Secretary of the Army approve proposed changes to the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Corps Immaterial Command Policy that open opportunities for career-enhancing assignments, including command of medical treatment facilities and units involved in the delivery of health care, to Army Nurse Corps (AN) Officers, as well as other AMEDD officers.
7. Violence Against Military Women DACOWITS recommends that the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy expand the information currently being collected on spouse abuse to include all violence against military women (including sexual assault).
The data collection should specifically include the following:
9. Height/Weight/Body Fat Standards DACOWITS recommends to the Secretary of Defense that:
(1) Future service-wide standards take into account differences in body fat distribution among persons of different ages and ethnic groups and that this method be validated against an improved criteria method ("Gold Standard") that takes variations in body shape into account.
(2) The Army eliminate it’s policy of including on evaluation reports the statement "the soldier is in compliance with Army regulation 600-9", (Army Weight Control Program), which informs the reader that the soldier had been taped.
10. Women's Health Research DACOWITS recommends that, based on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report, funding the Defense Women's Health Research Program (DWHRP) is critical if military women's concerns are to be addressed fully. DACOWITS recommends that this research continue and urges that this program be added as a subcommittee on Women's Health of the Armed Services Biomedical Research, Evaluation and Management (ASBREM) Committee or identified and addressed as an integral women's health component of each Service's research program.
Chair: Ms. Holly K. Hemphill