New Diversity Task Force Announced

New Diversity Task Force Announced
Army News Service | J.D. Leipold | December 03, 2007

WASHINGTON - Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. has announced the creation of a Diversity Task Force, headed by a general officer, to review the Army's diversity policies, practices and progress.

Gen. Casey appointed Brig. Gen. Belinda Pinckney, commander of the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command to head up the task force. He made the announcement at the Army's first senior leadership diversity breakfast Thursday morning.

"The purpose of the task force is to increase awareness and to inform ourselves about how we need to adapt what we're doing so we can sustain awareness and focus on diversity," Gen. Casey said.

The chief of staff recalled from his time in Iraq how he was often asked by Iraqi leaders, 'how do you have a squad like that... with people from all races and genders operating so well together?'

"I will tell you that I firmly believe the strength of our Army comes from our diversity," Gen. Casey said, adding that the example of the U.S. Army has helped the Iraqi army bring together Sunni and Shiite Moslems to work with Kurds and other nationalities as a team.

The example of how U.S. Soldiers of different nationalities work together "has really helped the Iraqi Army retain it's role as the only non-sectarian organization in that whole country," Gen. Casey said, "so if you're looking for the impact of the strength, the diversity of an organization, look no further than that."


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