FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – On February 13th, the Pennsylvania National Guard held a Black History Month event that featured U.S. Army Col. Chaplain Khallid Shabazz, the U.S. Central Command chaplain, who spoke through video conference to approximately 100 Pennsylvania National Guard members and Department of Defense civilian employees.
During his motivational talk, Shabazz introduced the theme of his speech by saying, “Our leadership is a sermon we must be careful how we preach it.” He shared his personal story of overcoming childhood traumas and struggling with discipline in the early years of his career in the Army. Shabazz spoke about how he turned his life around after a sergeant major told him that he believed in him. Since that time, Shabazz has earned four master’s degrees, two doctorates, written three books, and uses his knowledge and experience to mentor and motivate others.
Shabazz advised leaders and future leaders to not pretend they do not see differences in race, gender, or religion, but rather to acknowledge them and motivate soldiers to work as one team while respecting our differences. He also encouraged leaders to embrace innovative ways to achieve equity and create a more diverse and inclusive military.
Brig. Gen. Laura McHugh, the Pennsylvania National Guard’s deputy adjutant general – Army, said, “There is no American history, there is no Pennsylvania history, indeed there is no Pennsylvania National Guard history, without black history.” Despite prejudice, African Americans have been serving with honor in the Pennsylvania National Guard since before the United States even declared our independence and have served in all of America’s wars since long before they could serve on an equal basis with white Americans.
Shabazz’s experience shows the impact leaders that value people with diverse backgrounds and experiences and practices inclusiveness can have on one individual’s life and on the force as a whole. “I personally challenge each member of the Pennsylvania National Guard to be ambassadors of diversity, to not only put forth examples of equality and inclusion, but to champion them when they occur,” said McHugh, who is also the co-chair of the State Joint Diversity Council. “Let us take the focus and momentum of Black History Month and put it into action going forward.”
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