FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Sergeant 1st Class Mitchell Ledet, the National Training Center and Fort Irwin’s Equal Employment (EO) Adviser and Program Manager, talked about the Army’s message during a time of racial protests and unrest and the programs that are in place to address it.

Ledet has been a soldier in the United States Army for more than 18 years and said, “Listen for understanding, not agreement.”

The recent protests have been focused on police killings of people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Ledet said some believe they lost their lives unnecessarily and it feels as though there are many wounds that have been reopened, which is why it is so important to the Army to address it and reiterate to soldiers that there is no place for discrimination at Fort Irwin.

In response to the protests, the Commanding General of NTC, Brig. Gen. David Lesperance released a memorandum on June 23 addressing the current situation and said at Fort Irwin, “We challenge every soldier, civilian and family member to do their part…in making NTC and Fort Irwin a more inclusive organization.”

Ledet stressed how important it is to listen to people with understanding because everyone has different life experiences and points of views. It’s imperative that each person sits down and has the uncomfortable conversations so that the military community can further the discussion and progress into equality in the country.

The Department of Defense has several systems to bridge race relations. The DoD conducts a monthly series of special ethnic observances that are designed to enhance cross-cultural and gender awareness. This year’s theme is, “Honoring the Past, Securing the Future” and this year’s events have included African American, Holocaust, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic observances, along with a Women’s Equality observance that took place on Aug. 5. At these observances, the past accomplishments and contributions that these races have made in our Army are highlighted, demonstrating how important every American has been throughout history no matter the race.

Ledet implies that it’s important to set the bar for current soldiers to further the progress made and continue to build on the legacy that our fellow Americans left.

“To honor the past is to set a standard for our future to build off of these great accomplishments and to create our own history,” Ledet said.

As far as race relations in the Army go today, “We are getting there,” said Ledet, who believes race relations in the Army are excellent based on all the policies and programs that are beginning to be implemented now to address institutionalized racism and to further the progress of racial equality.

“We’re definitely heading in the right direction, it’s black and white with things the Army has in place all the way up from HQDA,” Ledet said.

Another measure the military has taken in the conversation on race relations is that the Army has just revamped the Army Command Policy AR 600-20 chapter 6, which covers the Equal Opportunity programs. It has also just started the listening tour and is also revamping the Sexual Harassment Assault Response Program (SHARP).

“It starts at basic training, it starts with the Army Values” said Ledet, who explained how our soldiers are taught from the very beginning to see each other as equals.

Ledet said for change in an organization to work, it must start from the top down.

The Commanding General of the NTC, Brig. Gen. Lesperance said leaders are conducting a thorough review of internal policies and programs and asked leaders to implement more interactive and discussion-based diversity and inclusion training into their Equal Opportunity/Equal Employment Opportunity program.

“Be inclusive— make a commitment to seek out and surround yourself with those who don’t look like you, think like you and who come from different backgrounds,” Lesperance said. “Specifically reach out to Junior officers and enlisted members whose background is different than yours and mentor them. It may be uncomfortable at first, but you’ll help them grow into Future Leaders and they will help you grow to be a better leader yourself.”