Secretary of the Army Howard University

DC, UNITED STATES

11.01.2016

Video by Peter Ising 

Soldiers Magazine

The Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning addresses Army leadership and ROTC
Cadets during the third Army Senior Leader/ROTC Professional Mentor Forum at
Howard University in Washington D.C.

"By now, most of you have raised your right hand and decided to become an
officer and leader in the U.S. Army. I understand we have some Air Force
cadets here as well. So the Army and the Air Force. And by now, your
professors and military leaders have taught you a lot about what that
means."

"But your service and leadership also means something special to the
American people."

"In June, Gallup released a poll showing that the U.S. Military is the most
trusted institution in our nation. And that's been true for nearly two
decades. The military is ranked higher than small businesses or banks,
higher than schools or hospitals. Sorry Dr. Fredrick."

"Think about that: the American people have more confidence in you than in
those who manage their savings, or teach their children, or tend to their
family members when they get sick. What an awesome responsibility you're
taking on."

"As future Army leaders, that means you have a special obligation. And you
honor that obligation by keeping faith with the Soldiers you will be
entrusted to lead."

"I've had the privilege of serving in the headquarters of each of our three
of our services, and I've seen how the Army is a people-based organization.
I've seen how people are the strength of our Army. And the Army's people
cannot accomplish their many missions without strong and steady leadership.
And that's what will be required of each of you."

"As an Army officer, much will be asked of you and quickly. Part of what
makes becoming an Army officer so special, is that few other institutions
place so must trust in young people and provide them so much
responsibility."

"Over my last 16 months with the Army, I've seen young men and women not
much older than you, leading Soldiers around the world. From training in
Arctic Alaska, to the jungles of Malaysia, from Kabul and Kandahar, to
Eribil and Bagdad."

"Here at home, our Soldiers are scientists, doctors and technicians helping
to develop vaccines against Zika and treatments against Ebola. They are
engineers, and pilots, and logisticians: specialists, playing critical roles
in immediate response to communities struck by natural disasters."

"The experiences of the general officers with us today helps demonstrate the
diversity of what our Army does for this nation. These leaders were trained
as logisticians and communications specialists, aviators and infantrymen,
tankers and physicians."

"Use your engagements with them today to think more broadly about the range
of contributions you can make in the Army. Take this chance to have a frank
discussion about what service in different branches involves, and the career
opportunities it provides. Think also about branches that aren't represented
here today, like cyber. It's our newest branch, but one that has great
importance and growth potential for the future."

"Regardless of their initial branch, the general officers here today, are
where they are today because they have become strategic leaders. Most
importantly, time and again, they have proven their dedication to the
Soldiers under their command."

"For Army leaders, our "Army values" are more than a slogan or motto. The
words loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and
personal courage are the measure of everything they do."

"By preparing to become Army officers, you have begun to demonstrate your
commitments to these values. By volunteering to put the welfare of the
nation ahead of your own through selfless service, you are showing loyalty
to your country and fellow citizens. You are demonstrating personal courage
in that you are embarking upon an uncertain journey. A journey that is
certain to present tremendous opportunity as well as challenge, triumph and
adversity, good days and bad."

"As Soldiers, you will be asked to serve in different environments and to
interact with citizens of different nations. When the people of the world
see the ability of the American people to join together, reflecting every
part of this country, and every thread of our American fabric within our
Army, they will see the power of our example. And it is both the power of
our example and the example of our power which makes the Army you join today
the most dominant land force in history."

"For the Army to accomplish all that the American people ask of us, we need
to enable our Soldiers to harness the power of diverse teams. We need
experience, critical thinking and creativity in our force, but most
importantly, we need teams of people who think differently from one another
and yet are connected through unity of mission."

"This is not just an article of faith. This is scientific fact. Researchers
at Cal Tech and the University of Michigan, as well as other institutions,
have found that teams that include members of different ethnic or cultural
backgrounds bring a mix of distinct cognitive approaches, which deliver
better outcomes."

"Business schools teach similar lessons, based on their own research on
gender. Their findings demonstrate that more effective firms include greater
numbers of women at top levels of management. Other studies show that teams
of individuals drawn from diverse academic backgrounds, academic
disciplines, and political affiliations, are better problem solvers and
drivers of innovation."

"So the verdict is in: for the Army of tomorrow to be as strong as the Army
of today, we must harness the power of diverse teams and draw further from
one of America's greatest advantages: our diverse population."

"However, it is not diversity alone, but the way in which our Soldiers are
joined together, and joined with the community that provides our advantage."

"Whatever path you take as Officers, I would ask that each of you remember
your experience as ROTC cadets. On each of your campuses you have built
bridges between the incredible diversity of your fellow students and the
military. In many cases, you've been that bridge. You may be the only future
Soldier your classmates know."

"Before coming here today, I read about Cadet Morrow, who introduced me
today, and about his commitments on campus. He's involved in many different
organizations, as I'm sure is true for most of you. I'd ask that you remain
engaged with your civilian classmates, stay involved as alumni, and stay
connected with friends from the many organizations and clubs where you've
contributed."

"When citizens see Soldiers on CNN, or read about our missions in the
newspapers, they often have little understanding of who they are and what
they do. They don't have a personal connection to the Army. You must be that
connection. Years from now, when your classmates think about the Army, they
shouldn't see some faceless organization. They should think about you."

"We often talk about the military-civilian divide. Through your experience
and friendships, you can help to maintain critical connections between our
nation and our nation's Army."

"It's fitting that we've come together here at Howard, a school named for a
leader who understood both his obligations to the Army and to society."

"General Oliver Otis Howard faced his share of adversity. He lost his arm in
a battle early in the Civil War but quickly returned to service. Not long
after he returned to the battlefield, he suffered two great disappointments.
At Chancellorsville and Gettysburg his Soldiers performed poorly. He was
deeply criticized by his leaders."

"But his story did not stop there."

"Later in the war, Howard would lead Union forces deeply into enemy
territory and without much support. Ultimately, his Soldiers would push from
Tennessee all the way to the Georgia Coast, taking the city of Savannah and
helping end the Civil War."

"Even then, Howard's service was not finished. When he returned to
Washington, he worked to integrate his neighborhood church. He then served
as the head of the Freedman's bureau, working to provide freed slaves with
education and meaningful work. And as part of that effort, he helped found
this historic university, later becoming its third president."

"However you serve as a Soldier, I hope you learn from that example, and
from the examples of the senior leaders here today. I hope you will see that
as an Army officer, you will be part of something special. You will be part
of an institution that is older than this nation -- one that helped give
birth to this nation. You will be leaders in an Army that will be critical
to our nation's continued strength and success."

• Date Taken: 11.01.2016
• Date Posted: 11.03.2016 16:52
• Category: Briefings
• Video ID: 490810
• VIRIN: 161101-D-AX270-210
• Filename: DOD_103816342
• Length: 00:30:55
• Location: DC, US