Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ben Houtkooper | Soldiers and Airmen of the Minnesota National Guard gather to celebrate the change of...... read more read more
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ST. PAUL, Minn. – Command Sgt. Maj. Douglas Wortham took responsibility as the Minnesota National Guard senior enlisted adviser from Command Sgt. Maj. Cynthia Kallberg during a ceremony in St. Paul, Sept. 27, 2014.
Maj. Gen. Richard C. Nash, adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard, described Kallberg as a leader, technical expert, mentor and trailblazer. Kallberg took on the position of senior enlisted adviser in December of 2011 and is the first female to hold that position in the Minnesota National Guard.
“As the first female senior enlisted adviser, CSM Kallberg provided a solid example for women in our ranks and showed them that the only limit to their advancements is the limits of their own aspirations,” said Nash. “Through her personal effort and example, she established that while she may have been the Minnesota National Guard’s first female senior enlisted adviser, she will likely not be the last.”
During the past three years, Kallberg focused on programs to eliminate or reduce instances of suicide, sexual assault and sexual harassment, improve resilience among Soldiers and Airmen and increase access to mental health and substance abuse programs. She also spearheaded the women in combat units initiative, with Minnesota being one of eight test states for assigning women into units that were previously closed to them.
“One thing that I’ve learned, however, is that when you’re given an opportunity, it’s not about you, it’s about what you can do with that opportunity to help others coming behind you,” said Kallberg. “With the help of some of my most trusted mentors and some wonderfully gifted peers, the momentum is gaining. I can confidently say that our female Soldiers and Airmen see possibilities for their careers that simply weren’t there a few years ago and I’m really proud to have been a small part of that.”
Wortham spoke about the six areas he will focus on during his time in the position: preventing sexual assaults and harassment, suicide awareness and prevention, developing mentorship, maintaining professionalism, furthering the women in combat units initiative and increasing readiness in the Minnesota National Guard.
“My promise to you is this: I will be approachable, I will be a leader exhibiting the attributes of character, presence and intellect,” said Wortham. “I will serve to lead others. I will develop the environment, myself, others and the profession as a whole. And I will do everything I can to ensure we achieve our organizational goals.”
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2014 16:33 |
| Story ID: | 143656 |
| Location: | ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 220 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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