U.S. ARMY
leadership is a choice, you are indeed empowered. You have been empowered to lead without regard to your title or social standing. We may do it with a pen, with words, or clearly the most difficult, with action. Once you accept the aforementioned premise, one’s life question goes from what can I achieve to what can I contribute?” It is what President Abraham Lincoln meant when he said, ‘Don’t worry when you’re not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.’ It is the social conscience of our nation that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was referring to when he said, ‘Today’s despair is a poor chisel to carve out tomorrow’s justice.’ Professionally for me, the integrity of leadership, unlike toxic leadership, is the tool that carves out tomorrow’s justice. Integrity is more than consistency of actions, values, methods, measures and principles; the hallmark of integ- rity is choosing to do what is right, regardless of consequence. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., epitomized integrity of leadership with his life, his actions and in his words: ‘There comes a time when
one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.’” MG Sargent asserted that “integrity of leadership promotes character that sets the example that is imitated by those aspiring to become servant leaders. That imitation can be scaled by one action, one person, one idea, one fraternity, one com- munity at a time. That one action sparks an idea, that idea sparks a conversation that conversation starts a movement that movement becomes a revolution, and that revolution changes the world… Leader- ship taught me to believe in the power and value of people, good people, within the United States Army and the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi.” “I am reminded as a professional soldier that the foundation of integrity and lead- ership is built upon wide-ranging charac- ter, intellect and compassion. The foun- dation of toxic leadership is built upon anger, distrust, ignorance and apathy.” Paraphrasing Proverbs 29:18, we have the power to revive the spirit of our com- munity, our country, to recapture the vi-
sion…That vision is a better, a more just, a more prosperous, a more equitable future. We, all of us, do that through leadership, a choice not a position! “As a General Officer, it is no secret that our job on the battlefield consist of Senior Leaders ultimately striving to win the hearts and minds (intellect and emotion) of the local populace in order to not only win the battle, but to win the war." “When we maintain an unswerving fidelity to each other as Kappa men, we have an opportunity to do the same (to win the hearts and minds) in our respec- tive areas of influence i.e., our neighbor- hoods, communities, churches, schools, colleges and ultimately within Kappa Alpha Psi. Besides, Kappa Alpha Psi has been ‘Training for Leadership Since 1911’. Achievement is who are, what we do and how we live!” “With rights come responsibilities. Leadership is fostered, replenished and salvaged by taking on the responsibility to lead the next generation to a better place with whatever attributes one may possess. It is my belief that every one of
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