Photo By Tech. Sgt. Andrew Enriquez | Maj. Gen. William Walker (center), Commanding General, DC National Guard, poses for a...... read more read more
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WASHINGTON – For decades, Black fraternities and sororities have played an instrumental role in advancing Black culture in America. During a time when Blacks were being denied basic rights and privileges and experiencing racial isolation and social barriers, these Black Greek-letter organizations were formed to foster brotherhood and sisterhood and bring about social change, esprit de corps, community awareness and action through educational, economic and service activities.
Members learn how to develop leadership skills, pursue personal achievement and foster unity. They continue to uphold these principles today.
Among them is U.S. Air Force Maj. Robert Jobe, a civil engineer with the Civil Engineer Squadron, 113th Wing, District of Columbia Air National Guard, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Jobe joined the Alpha Theta Chapter of the fraternity at Tennessee State University, a historically Black university.
In Kappa Alpha Psi, Jobe learned the importance of leadership and achievement and applied it to his military roles.
“My achievements reflect and represent my community and create opportunities for other African American men like myself,” said Jobe. “I learned the importance of brotherhood and becoming family-oriented through love and support to help others accomplish goals. Kappa Alpha Psi gave me leadership experience amongst peers that has directly translated to the team forming and performing successes in my military career.”
Jobe has worked alongside his fraternity brothers in the military—Black men of different career fields and backgrounds.
“I have had the pleasure of working alongside and under the command of some amazing fraternity brothers in my military career,” said Jobe. “All of us aligned under the fundamental purpose of achievement as ‘Nupes’ [a name reserved for pledged fraternity members].”
Diversity is important in any work environment and has a direct impact on Jobe’s military job. Jobe said working in an environment with a diversity of cultures, backgrounds and races helps build his communication skills, emotional intelligence and empathy as a servant leader—a leader who puts people first.
“Diversity can only be genuinely accomplished if it includes equal opportunities of advancement in career and rank for minority representation,” said Jobe. “Seeing the presence of others is indeed a beautiful picture. However, ensuring the inclusion of others in the development and advancement of our military leadership is part of the bigger picture.”
One of Jobe’s proudest moments in his military career was his contributions to the DCNG COVID-19 Response mission.
“We provided unique and advanced structural technology with the manufacturing and installation of containerized patient incubation pods to United Medical Center in Southeast D.C., an area where COVID-19 heavily impacted minority residents,” said Jobe.
The pods act like medical rooms to provide treatment for residents.
Additionally, Jobe and his team supported the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by building and equipping a $33 million facility of 151,000 sq. ft. with 443 individual treatment beds, including six rapid treatment beds at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
“At D.C. Mayor Bowser’s press conference, May 11, 2020, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, stated that D.C. had built the best Alternate Care Site in the nation,” said Jobe.
Jobe calls the opportunity to assist in the COVID-19 response mission a privilege.
“For our DCNG leadership to allow us, as civil engineers, to be a part of such amazing efforts in the domestic operations response to this deadly pandemic was a huge highlight and privilege in my military career,” said Jobe.
As a Kappa Alpha Psi member, Jobe is one of the many heroes who serve their community and country.
“Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the cultural significance and relevance of African Americans and our contribution to our country,” said Jobe.
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 02.24.2021 17:56 |
| Story ID: | 389704 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 353 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Black History Month Spotlight: U.S. Air Force Maj. Robert Jobe, by SSgt Daira Jackson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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