Page 84 - RADC 2020

OR JOBS
Diversity and Inclusion DMA Lead
Sgt R Bell
The Defence Medical Academy is a very complex and busy unit. We have rolling courses throughout the year, with a wide range of students. With a high diversity
of students and permanent staff, it is important as an Academy to ensure that everyone within, and involved with, the academy are inclusive and uphold Values and Standards. This is not only upholding the standards set by the Army but ensuring that we cater for all services. The unit’s objective is to ensure that all personnel are treated with respect and consideration.
There are many networks available to get in touch with if support, advice or guidance are required. The networks welcome new members and allies and encourage ideas of how to improve how we all work together. A list of networks can be found on the Diversity & Inclusion Toolkit within the D&I Team SharePoint site and Defence connect site. I recommend taking a look- it’s a
very useful tool for any individual, team or management role for the most up to date material. I have personally found it useful for updated Army policy, direction and any signposting I have given.
It is everyone’s responsibility to adhere to diversity and inclusion policies and in recent events it’s now as important as ever. I recommend everyone to take the opportunity to refresh themselves regularly.
The Army has now started a new campaign to get personnel involved, Diversity Allies. If you haven’t already then this is something to invest some time
into. It is a short course with lots of useful information for day to day running of the workplace. I personally think this campaign
is an amazing way of getting informed and improving the way we work. The course is for anyone who is not already D&I trained but has an interest in supporting and driving the Military’s D&I goals. Be a part of improving the Army and how we work together for a better tomorrow.
Army Mediation Service
The Army Mediation service aims to resolve conflict in the workplace.
What is Mediation? Mediation is a process in which an independent, impartial third party helps two or more people to have
a conversation they have been unable to have effectively. It is voluntary, impartial, confidential and self-determining.
On the back of qualifying as a Diversity and Inclusion Advisor I was keen to use
and develop my skills in this particular area.
I was then told about the Army Mediation Team. So late last year I went through a very diligent selection process to get on the Army Mediation course. The selection process itself was a challenge that I welcomed. It
got me to self-reflect, dig into my deeper consciousness and even question some of my own ways of response. Thankfully, I was successful in the application and attended the course in Nov 19.
I can say that hand on heart this was one of the best courses I have attended in the Army. It was challenging, interesting and kept you on your toes. It felt as though I was learning a new language throughout the course. I found that things that seem so simple are often forgotten, something as easy as listening has somehow been lost. That’s speaking from experience. Through
the course I developed better listening
skills, when to use silence to my advantage and how what you say can be heard as something else. I was one of three NCOs
on the course, the remainder were officers. We were all treated as individuals and had to make sure we were completely impartial. It was a great opportunity to work with such a wide range of experience. Since then I have learnt that the Army Mediation Service has a pool of around 80 Army Mediators between the ranks of Corporal to Brigadier. On successful completion I became a member of the Army Mediation service, as an Army Workplace Mediator.
So, what does that mean? The Army Mediation Service trawls the pool of Mediators to facilitate mediation throughout the Army. Once selected, as mediators
we then make contact with the unit point
of contact to arrange a suitable time and place to create a comfortable atmosphere for the parties involved. In essence, we as mediators are impartial parties who facilitate a conversation between willing volunteers.
This is a very unique experience. You can never predict an outcome - a simple word or sentence can change the whole world. It’s a huge responsibility but one that I have thoroughly enjoyed, from a self-development point of view and a sense of paying back to the Army.
The message I fully support from the Army Mediation Service is; Don’t suffer it, solve it!
Army Mediation Service Contact details: Mil: 96770 7691
Civ: 0306 7707691 Army-Mediation-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk
82 RADC BULLETIN 2020