Women's history month calls attention to the contributions of women to military life in the United States. Similarly, National Disability Employment Awareness reminds all personnel that a person's disability does not define them, any more than a person's gender or ethnicity does. Women's History month, African-American History Month, and National Disability Employment Awareness remind military personnel about how some members of society had been systematically excluded and discriminated against until fairly recently. The observances ensure that discrimination is no longer tolerated in any place of employment. The ethnic observances create an attitude of inclusion and acceptance, which is important for organizational culture. Cohesion in the military is especially important, which is why observing ethnic, cultural, gender, and other differences is important for the Department of Defense.

The military's diverse personnel...

Observances should not be superficial. Instead, they should become opportunities to delve deeper into the issues surrounding mistrust, miscommunication, and biases. Observing and respecting how different people think about the world can improve problem solving and teamwork in any military department. As the observances become entrenched in the annual military schedules, they will be viewed as less artificial. The celebrations will become an integral part of celebrating the multitude of people that comprise the American military and the country as a whole.
References

Deputy Chief of Staff, Equal Opportunity Branch. "Ethnic Observances." http://www.armyg1.army.mil/eo/ethnic.asp (Accessed Nov 12, 2009).

US Army IMCOM. http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/installation/eo-ethnic.asp (Accessed Nov 11, 2009).