Photo By Allen Meeks | Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense...... read more read more
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Seventy-five years after the start of the Korean War, veterans of that conflict still remind us that service is measured not only in battles fought, but in values carried forward.
At the annual luncheon for Alabama A&M University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville ROTC cadets Sept. 3, the lessons of history and leadership converged in ways that spoke to both sacrifice and responsibility.
A reminder of service-above-self framed the message delivered by keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
Gainey, himself once an uncertain college athlete at Georgia Southern who found his way into ROTC, urged cadets to see leadership not as a title but as a responsibility built on trust, feedback and resilience.
“The one thing I learned over my career is your best leaders shine when things get tough,” Gainey said. “When things are going good everybody does well as leaders. But there’s always that event that happens, and your ability to recognize it, adapt and move forward is what separates true leaders.”
After an incident where he put a missile launcher, with two live missiles, into a ditch during drills in Europe, Gainey got promoted. Not for putting the launcher into a ditch, he said, laughing. But it was because of leadership.
Gainey’s commander at the time told him why he got the promotion after crashing two live missiles into a roadside ditch: “You took charge when nobody else would. You recognized the situation. You corrected it. You adapted. You overcame. You improvised. That’s what they look for in leadership.”
“That got me where I am today,” Gainey said. “The one thing I learned over my career is your best leaders shine when things get tough. When things are going good everybody does well as leaders. But there’s always that something, that event that happens, and your ability to respond, know it’s bad and work through the bad. And just lay out a way forward to be able to get through it and learn from it and grow from it is really what is going to separate leaders.”
Gainey had some advice for the younger generation on how to succeed.
“Whether you’re in the military or just life, building resilience is important in life,” he said. “A lot of the younger generation feel like if there is a tough event that you can’t overcome, it’s over. But the key to overcoming them is finding someone to help you get through those tough times. You’re going to experience bad times. And you’re going to experience challenges. Hopefully, you experience those challenges early and you’re able to constantly grow from it and build that resiliency.”
Gainey’s three investment strategies – build winning teams through trust, invest in feedback, and invest in yourself – echoed the qualities seen in those who fought on the Korean Peninsula. Nearly 2 million Americans served in that war, including 22,000 from Alabama. Their legacy, Gainey noted, shaped not only the outcome of the Cold War but also the freedoms enjoyed today by South Korea and its allies.
The luncheon was not without light moments, including a ringing cell phone blasting “Who Let the Dogs Out,” which drew laughter from the crowd, the one-time Georgia resident and Alabama A&M Bulldog cadets. But its message was serious: cadets are inheriting a tradition of service built by veterans whose courage defined generations.
For those beginning their military journey, the path may be uncertain, Gainey said, but the destination is clear.
“Every path is different. Your path doesn’t have to be military; it can be something else. If you’re not quite sure, give it time and it will work out and you’ll figure it out,” Gainey said.
From the foxholes of Korea to the training fields of today, the thread is resilience, sacrifice and leadership. For cadets preparing to serve, honoring the past is not just remembrance, it is a roadmap for the future.
| Date Taken: | 09.05.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.05.2025 13:12 |
| Story ID: | 547313 |
| Location: | REDSTONE ARSENAL, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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