84 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING: MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
The General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Award was presented to Brother Jeremiah Pasley, Cadet, initiated at the University of Alabama Chapter, the Eta Chi of Kappa Alpha Psi.
step forward and say send me, are at its’ core,” he continued.
leverage. Business school may teach you the spreadsheets and numbers, but the Army will teach you to be a leader.” Secretary McCarthy spoke of his life story. “My story is not unique. My experience in the Army is a shared ex- perience for anyone who has served. In this room, Kappa Alpha Psi mem- bers have served in the military as doctors, lawyers, executives, explosive technicians, and excelled to the rank of General.” Secretary McCarthy discussed what it meant to stand shoulder to shoulder in ‘Arms.’ “Today, I stand side by side with men whose begin- nings sound startlingly akin to mine. General Dennis L. Via, Lieutenant General Les C. Smith, Lieutenant General Aundre F. Piggee, Major General Kevin Vereen, Major General Patrick D. Sargent, Major General Charles R. Hamilton and Brigadier General Gavin A. Lawrence. I stand with men such as Mr. Sherman Kizart
and Representative Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. We belong to a brotherhood, paid in blood, sweat, and tears that have cata- pulted us from circumstances beyond our control, because we raised our hands and said “Send me.” “Like many of you, I served in the Army and then transitioned to the corporate world. This is the take away, the cliff note and my elevator pitch to each of you in this room. Leaders bring opportunities for people to achieve their potential. Leaders gave people like me and the men on this stage the opportu- nities. Now, it is our turn to offer the same.” Secretary McCarthy encouraged Kappa men to “be like my friend Lieu- tenant General Les Smith and go out there and inspire men and women with stories of your service. Tell them, how the Army challenged you to step forward and realize your potential. Tell them, that whether they want to be the next four-star general commanding the most hardened soldiers or a CEO of a fortune
Secretary McCarthy joyously noted “for those that do not know, I hail from Chicago. I am from a struggling middle-class family in a tough neighbor- hood. What we lacked in money, my parents made up for in values, disci- pline, and love. I learned humility and a work ethic starting with very little. And I learned the sting of wanting to rise above what I have and the hustle it takes to get there”…“I joined the Army where my grit was tested, my upbring- ing was irrelevant, and I understood what it meant to belong. The military is a meritocracy where individuals are promoted based on their deeds and potential. The Army builds leaders by organizing teams against a problem and applying pressure. Through this process, transitioning from the military to the business world, I gained the confidence to sit across from a busi- ness executive and hold my own. I had gained experience that can rarely be matched and possessed a network to
90 | FALL 2019 ♦ THE JOURNAL
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