procedures. Such reviews detect racial, religious,
ethnic, cultural, or sexual bias affecting either the
accusation or the punishment phase of military justice.
SERVICE AND RECREATIONAL
FACILITIES
Service and recreational facilities must meet the
needs of all segments of the Navy community.
Commands must pay special attention to the possibility
of discriminatory practices in the operation of
exchanges, commissaries, service clubs, and
recreational facilities. Segregation, lack of tolerance of
cultural preferences, or discriminatory practices in
command facilities are inconsistent with equal
opportunity.
Navy exchange facilities provide a variety of
products. These products include items purchased by
minority and female personnel and dependents, such as
special categories of cosmetics, books, magazines, and
records. Barber and beauty shops employ personnel
trained and qualified to serve all Navy members and
their dependents.
HOUSING REFERRAL OFFICE
The Department of Defense (DoD) has established
housing referral offices at locations with large
concentrations of military families. DoD has also
established housing referral offices at locations where
housing discrimination may exist because of race, color,
creed, or national origin.
The Navy requires that all personnel offices include
the following statement in orders for detachment and
TAD of more than 30 days in any one place:
“You are directed to report to the appropriate
Housing Referral Office prior to negotiating any
agreement for off-base housing.”
The HRO provides information about government
housing and the type, cost, and availability of private
housing. The HRO also maintains a list of facilities
banned as housing for military personnel because of
discriminatory practices.
Department of the Navy (DoN) policy supports the
Federal Fair Housing legislation through its efforts to
ensure equal opportunity for available housing. It makes
ev e r y e ff o r t t o e l i m i n a t e o ff - b a s e h o u s i n g
discrimination toward DoD personnel because of sex,
race, color, religion, or national origin. It tries to ensure
DoD personnel who meet ordinary standards of
character and financial responsibility can obtain
off-base housing as easily as any other person.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFF BASE
Discrimination in the civilian community has an
adverse effect on the welfare and morale of military
personnel and their dependents. Consequently,
discrimination off base is harmful to the military
e ff e c t iv e n e s s o f a c o m m a n d . D e a l i n g w i t h
discrimination in the civilian community is more
difficult than within a command. However, the Navy
deals affirmatively with such problems to ensure equal
treatment for service members and their dependents in
nearby communities.
Commands can take a number of actions to promote
equal opportunity for its members in the civilian
community. At some installations, problems of mutual
concern to the base and the community are discussed on
an informal but regular basis. The Navy has established
command-community relations committees as another
approach. Whatever approach they use, commands
make every effort to eliminate off-base discrimination
for military personnel and their dependents.
Military personnel moving into or changing their
place of residence may not enter into rental, purchase, or
lease arrangements with facilities under restrictive
sanctions. However, such sanctions do not apply to
personnel who may be residing in the facility at the time
the sanction is imposed. Personnel who intentionally,
and contrary to instructions, take residence in restricted
facilities are subject to disciplinary action and loss of
basic allowance for quarters (BAQ).
Equal opportunity also applies to public facilities,
such as schools, parks, playgrounds, libraries, and
hotels. Any person who receives discriminatory
treatment in such places can seek relief through military
or civilian channels. Normally, you should go through
military channels (your chain of command). That gives
your command the opportunity to try to get the facility
to comply with the law.
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Student Notes:
