Chapter 1: U.S. Air Force Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (Deia) Practitioner Viewpoints: Lessons Learned, Best Practice Recommendations, and Questions Unanswered

Although military organizations differ from private sector organizations in many ways, many of the same underlying principles that can make DEIA policies and initiatives effective in the U.S. Air Force or other military contexts can also apply in other organizations. This chapter offers lessons learned from DEIA initiatives in the U.S. Air Force. This chapter highlights strategies that can be beneficial for advancing DEIA, explaining the underlying principles that others (outside of the military) may draw from. The sections that follow will describe: (a) three principles that have been helpful in Air Force DEIA practice, (b) two fundamental challenges encountered, (c) two promising future DEIA training initiatives, and (d) a recommended direction for future research.