WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- The recipient of the Association of the United States Army’s highest award delivered the message that “Education is everybody’s business” in an address to more than 3,500 attendees at the dinner concluding AUSA’s Annual Meeting.
Lt. Gen. Julius Becton, USA, Ret., who entered a segregated Army in World War II, said, “I would encourage each of you to be involved in education. …You can help by visiting schools.” Adding, “We cannot go back to the Army that I first joined.”
During his George Catlett Marshall address, he connected his long military service with his civilian career first with U.S.AID as director of foreign assistance and continuing service on boards of foundations and non-profits devoted to education. “Tell them about JROTC and ROTC” and the value those programs offer to young men and women, their schools and the community.
Becton, who soon will publish a memoir, reflected on his 15 months as chief executive officer of the District of Columbia public school system as “the toughest job I ever had.” He said that while some schools in that system were producing high achieving students with motivated faculty “too many of our schools in the district are not there.”
The former president of Prairie View strongly defended the contributions of historically black colleges and universities as “producing a large number of officers” for the armed forces and talented graduates who contribute much to their businesses and communities.
“The fundamental challenge for the Army is to ensure that it remains a complete force while retaining the support of the American people.”
In his address, which he was delivering on what would have been his mother’s 107th birthday, Becton said that he was inspired by a quote by Marshall as World War II was ending to leave a United States as “a symbol of freedom on one hand and overwhelming force on the other” to the world.
Becton said the “foundation for any organization is be professional. Know your job. Do what you are told. If not told, use your gray matter.”
He reminded the attendees that “Loyalty is a two-way street” and asked “why not create a Bill of Rights for those who can no longer serve” not only in the armed forces because of wounds and injuries but also for civilian first responders.
Again drawing on one of the 12 principles that he said guided his life, Becton said, “Disagreement is not disrespect,” citing the divide in the nation over Iraq. “Solutions are not easy.” He called for a new Marshall Plan and involving land grant colleges and agricultural colleges in Iraq and the Horn of Africa in food production.
POC:
John Grady
Director of Communications
Association of the United States Army
703-907-2613
jgrady@ausa.org