COVER STORY
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael E. Langley addresses the audience during his promotion ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., August 6, 2022. Gen. Langley, who began his career in the Marine Corps as an artillery officer in 1985, is the first Black Marine to be promoted to the rank of General. Below, Brother General Langley's parents promote him during the ceremony.
apart from the Marine Corps. You need to learn the corporate side. We have for you, two choices, P & R or this other choice, program & resources; make your pick! Mike, you need to learn. You need to shape yourself. I know it sounds like a challenge, but it is an opportunity to excel.” General Langley further reflected upon his earlier time at Marine Barracks in 1989 when he was approached by then Major Bailey. “Major Bailey stated that he had a meeting at the White House with the 41 st President H. W. Bush & Joints Chiefs of Staff about the War on Drugs in which President Bush inquired what each service was doing. Every Joints Chiefs was mute except General Gray, USMC, who said, “I got
this young officer at the Barracks engag- ing weekly with underprivileged youth in the Southeast District Northwest. He’s taking them camping, getting them off the streets; there are no longer drug runners. Before long, this will no longer be the murder capital of the Nation.’ I am reminded that General Bailey told me, ‘Mike, I know people laughed when you said you would take that on. It mattered not just for the Corps, but it mattered to your country. What you are doing impacts the country.’ Leader- ship like that from then Major Bailey, now Lieutenant General (Ret.) Bailey was priceless, he mentored me over the years during the defining moments of my career, and I thank him.” Here’s to General Michael E. Langley!
THE JOURNAL ♦ SPRING 2022
PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENT IN EVERY FIELD OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR
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