The U.S. Air Force attempts to minimize racial and sexual discrimination by incorporating federal laws into its infrastructure and by exercising consistent enforcement of these laws. This leads to a development of cross-cultural communication among various subcultures within a multi-ethnic environment. The Social Actions Office at each Air Force base offers required orientation sessions on discrimination and standards. This office was established in 1973, under Regulation 30-2, as a result of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, racial disturbances at military bases, and statistics which indicated that blacks received harsher military punishments than whites. Regulation 30-2 and others outline specific discriminatory behavior and state proper standards of military conduct. Orientation sessions emphasize the reasons discrimination exists, the need for communication, and how individual perceptions influence interracial, interpersonal, and intercultural communications. The U.S. Air Force stresses that arbitrary discrimination negatively affects its mission and image. It also teaches understanding and appreciation of individual characteristics and cultural differences. (JHP)