To my Delaware National Guard family
recent national and local events have invoked emotional
responses of frustration, anger and sadness in many communities, as well as within our force.
Over the last several weeks, I have reached out to members of our guard family who represent the diversity within our ranks, to
seek advice by relying on their upbringing, experiences and
leadership.
I feel compelled to communicate with you, a message of
compassion, empathy, and hope for a better future for our
Delaware guard, state of Delaware and the nation as a whole.
as the adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, I am
concerned about the issues that affect the nation, the state of
Delaware, and my guard family.
You, as citizen soldiers and citizen airmen and women, are a part of my family. I'm grateful and proud to be tasked with leading and standing alongside a diverse group of service members to defend our country and state against all enemies. the mission of the Delaware National Guard is to provide protection of life and property, and to preserve peace, order and public safety.
We are truly, citizen-soldiers and airmen… we live, work, and have families in the communities that we are tasked with protecting and serving.
When we put on our uniform, politics and differences are put to
the side, and we stand together to protect our fellow citizens,
ensuring they can safely voice their beliefs.
We are here to protect – plain and simple
My hope is that when the community sees our Delaware guardsmen responding to an event, they have a sense of relief that compassion, support, understanding and safety, have arrived.
Internally, the Delaware National Guard has been, and is
currently, taking measures to ensure all voices are heard at
every level. our Delaware army and air guard units are
participating in diversity councils, stand down days, unit climate
assessments and more.
While many of us have not experienced first-hand what it is like to be a minority in the ranks, we are willing to listen and understand everyone’s experiences. it is extremely important to your leadership team, and even more so to your peers, that when given an opportunity to express your feelings and concerns through one of our surveys, take it seriously and answer with as much detail as possible. I make this
pledge to you, your responses will remain anonymous and will be used to strengthen our equal opportunity programs. More
importantly, your thoughts will be used to strengthen our
family and ensure that all members are able to complete their
mission with pride, in a work environment free of discrimination,
harassment and prejudice.
Over the last several decades, the Delaware National Guard has
defined itself as part of the greatest military force in history. We
have reached this standard not just because of our doctrine and
technology, or our tactics and warfighting skills. We have
reached it because we are a diverse, all-volunteer force of
patriots who believe in America and what she stands for. we
believe in the constitution and the rights it guarantees all
Americans; and we believe in values such as courage, honor,
commitment, duty and teamwork – all of which are hallmarks of
our men and women in uniform.
our Delaware guard has also reached this level of excellence
because we attract the best our communities and America have to offer; men and women across the land and beyond our shores who not only love our country and share these values, but who also represent a wide range of religions, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and other attributes. this diversity allows all of us to learn from the lessons of the past and continue to move
forward proudly as we live and demonstrate the Army and Air
Force values.
We hear you. we see you. we are with each and every one of you.
Thank you for your service.
Date Taken: | 07.09.2020 |
Date Posted: | 07.10.2020 15:46 |
Category: | Package |
Video ID: | 759370 |
VIRIN: | 200709-F-FZ583-916 |
Filename: | DOD_107892737 |
Length: | 00:04:48 |
Location: | DELAWARE, US |
Downloads: | 4 |
High-Res. Downloads: | 4 |
This work, Delaware's Adjutant General Addresses Current Climate Serving in the Delaware National Guard, by Maj. Bernie Kale, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.