Diversity Awards

National Guard Bureau News ^ | 2/3/2003 | National Guard Bureau News

[BeAllYouCanBe]

ARLINGTON, Virginia - National Guard members from Georgia, Massachusetts and New York were honored for their efforts to give people the chance to serve and advance as equals, regardless of their race, gender or religion, in Arlington, Va. on Jan. 31. National Guard Bureau officials presented the first Excellence in Diversity Awards to Air and Army Guard representatives from those states for their efforts to bring diversity to the force during 2002, which was the National Guard’s Year of Diversity. Georgia and Massachusetts each took home two of the five awards.

Christopher Gardner, director of the Guard Bureau’s Joint Staff, praised recently retired Lt. Gen. Russell Davis for proclaiming 2002 as the year that the National Guard would focus on that issue of equality to improve mission readiness. Davis retired as chief of the National Guard Bureau last September.

“All who have the ability to serve should have the opportunity to lead. Diversity will make that happen,” insisted Dr. Samuel Betances in his comments to Guard people who are striving to shape their units so they reflect the cultural and leadership mix of the communities where they are located.

Betances, the senior consultant for the Chicago firm of Souder, Betances and Associates, which specializes in diversity training and helping organizations develop diversity programs, said that diversifying the force would help sustain this country’s all-volunteer armed services.

“I know that there has been talk about bringing back the draft,” he said. “But if we do diversity right, we won’t have to bring back the draft. People will be proud to enlist and re-enlist and continue to serve this country.”

The state of Georgia received the Guard Bureau’s Joint Service Excellence in Diversity Award for fostering a 30-member human relations team of traditional and full-time Army and Air Guard members and state employees. The team was credited with forging “an exceptional array of accomplishments” that will be featured in a Best Practice Book.

Massachusetts’ 1st Battalion of the 104th Infantry, 26th Infantry Brigade, in Springfield got the Army Guard award for Unit Excellence in Diversity for organizing veterans to mentor local high school students who are interested in joining the armed forces.

New York’s 105th Airlift Wing in Newburgh won the Air Guard’s unit excellence award for training diversity educators, for retaining members of under-represented groups, and for building partnerships with community organizations.

Major David Mikolaities from Massachusetts’ 26th Infantry Brigade won the Army Guard’s individual award for developing a relationship between students in the Springfield High School Junior ROTC program and the members of a local Puerto Rican veterans center.

Chief Master Sgt. Percy Freeman, the human resources advisor for the 116th Air Control Wing in Georgia, was the Air Guard’s individual winner. He was described as “a key contributor to the development of the Georgia Department of Defense State and Unit Diversity Strategic Plans.”

The two Guardsmen were not present to accept their awards. Mikolaities was deployed on active duty, and Freeman was out of the country because of his civilian job, it was explained.

They were, however, praised for exceeding their peers and distinguishing themselves “through significant contributions to their Guard unit, state and local community.”

“This is not about a year, this is about a journey,” said Lt. Gen. Roger Schultz, director of the Army National Guard, about why leaders of Guard diversity programs should be recognized every year. “2002 is behind us, but this program is just starting,” he added. “We’re beyond the bumper sticker by a long way.”

“We become as individuals and as an organization what we reward. If we want to become more diverse, we have to reward these efforts,” observed Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, the Air Guard’s first African American director.

“I look forward to the day,” he added, “when diversity will be as much a part of this organization as flying safely and mobilizing and all of the other things that we do so well.”

[BeAllYouCanBe]

I thought the mission of the Army/National Guard was to defend the United States from enemies??

[BeAllYouCanBe]

Sam,

Can you or anyone else figure what these crazies are up to with our money?

[goodnesswins]

“All who have the ability to serve should have the opportunity to lead. Diversity will make that happen,” insisted Dr. Samuel Betances in his comments to Guard people who are striving to shape their units so they reflect the cultural and leadership mix of the communities where they are located.

Betances, the senior consultant for the Chicago firm of Souder, Betances and Associates, which specializes in diversity training and helping organizations develop diversity programs, said that diversifying the force would help sustain this country’s all-volunteer armed services.

Yeah....FOLLOW the MONEY. The Diversity Business Lobby wins another one.

[SAMWolf]

I hate to say it but some of the Military has bought into the PC / Diversity crap.

At least I know the National Guard has, it was one of the reasons I got out.

[goodnesswins]

And, furthermore, if some of the Islamafacsists have their way we'll be diversitized all the way back to the 13th century.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Anyone remembers Steve Martin's 'The Jerk'. One of the greatest movies of all times and a lesson in diversity.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

I am reading a new book about the history of diversity from encounter books. Frankly, I thought it was dying fast! If as you say the Nations Guard is "trying for 'Diversity' and I thought they were conservative???

[BeAllYouCanBe]

The jerk:

Yes, probably it could not be made today but it should be mandatory for every 7th grader in the country.

[SAMWolf]

It's not the rnak and file that's pushing it. It's the Higher ups and the politicians.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"Follow the Money"

Did anyone else notice in the article that there is a total lack of any concrete accomplishment except that the people feel good about the "diversity".

Many have compared diversity-think as a religon and I believe it is.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

My daughter was in the Army full-time from 98-01 and her last 13 months were in Korea. She talked about the endless multicultural classes she had and she was less than 8 miles from the DMZ!

If you want peace prepare for war!

If you want war prepare yourself using "diverse" methods of feeling good about your whole being!

[TSgt]

I have to jump in here on this one knowing that I'm going to be flamed.

I am a member of the Ohio Air National Guard. Last month I grudgingly attended my required 8 hour diversity class at the base. To my shock I was pleasantly surprised. The forum was not one of the "evil white man" but of appreciation for the contributions made by white leadership. Dr. Betances was VERY fair and even told the black reservists that they can't walk around with a chip on their shoulder or be life-long victims. Dr. Betances for the most part was very fair and balanced and I left the class feeling much better than when I had arrived.

I know that this stuff is ram-rodded down people's throats but in the military one cannot afford to have paltry prejudices especially when you are depending on that person you hate to cover your back.

My comments do not reflect the position of the DOD, Air Force or Ohio Air National Guard. They are just my two-cents nothing more.

[JoJo Gunn]

"Diversity" is Leftist CommieSpeak Racism. It's Anti-White, it's Enforced Guilt, it's nothing but Divisive.

[elbucko]

I thought they were conservative???

The States National Guards are still government institutions and therefore group-think no differently than the Dept. of Motor Vehicles, but with Camo's and M-16's.

The SRF units are better, more federal than state, but none-the-less, the rise to the top is essentially a "go along to get along" exercise. Even Pee Cee.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"To my shock I was pleasantly surprised."

I'm in shock just reading your post!

I'm sure that this training can be done right but and this is a big BUT the time spent must be balanced with all the other priorities that a soldier needs to train/learn on is this wise use of time?

Sadly, I think a lot of the motivation is to CYA for lawsuits to be brought by the legal-victim industry.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"Enforced Guilt"

It is all about feeling good -- I also fear that if this goes too far we may be afraid to kill an Arab because they are a "diverse-person".

[TSgt]

With all due respect are you currently or have you ever been in the military?

As for our unit we are at C1 Combat Readiness which is the highest level of readiness.

We also have fire extinguisher training. Is that a waste of time and resources as well?

[Paleo Conservative]

It is all about feeling good -- I also fear that if this goes too far we may be afraid to kill an Arab because they are a "diverse-person".

No, actually they are not diverse people. They are highly inbred have been marrying first cousins for thousands of years.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"they are not diverse people"

Yep, you're right there are no infidels among them.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

“All who have the ability to serve should have the opportunity to lead. Diversity will make that happen,”

Mike,

I also do wonder about the expectations they had in your training class what did you take back with you -- the deliverable as we say in the computer industry.

I worked with a Venezuelan who got through college and then rose through management by championing diversity at the expense of good judgment. He saw his accomplishment in life not of hard work but being the right "kind of guy" -- go figure??