Juneteenth was designated a federal vacation in 2021 and marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in June 1865 to take management of the state and be certain that all enslaved folks had been freed. The troops’ arrival got here two years and 9 months after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Since then, Juneteenth has been acknowledged because the official finish to slavery in the USA and a celebration of Black and African American tradition.
In the course of the occasion, Henry spoke with NMIC workers on his experiences as a Black American serving within the navy and the way it has impacted his private {and professional} life. For Henry, the distinctive setting of the navy permits variety to flourish and supplies a possibility to interrupt down cultural limitations.
“In some methods, the navy supplies a singular alternative,” stated Henry. “We [Americans] aren’t shut sufficient collectively for lengthy sufficient to see variations evaporate. Within the navy you might be.”
Henry began his navy profession in 1981 when he enlisted within the Marine Corps. A local of Texas, Henry had celebrated Juneteenth rising up and was shocked to be taught that the vacation was not extensively recognized or celebrated. All through his profession, he devoted himself to being a greater chief and function mannequin for his fellow Marines and attributes a lot of his personal success to the alternatives he was offered. For Henry, the navy’s ahead progress towards attaining a extra inclusive combating power and the energy of its variety is what elevate the effectiveness of a company.
“The energy of this nation, actually, lies within the variety we now have,” stated Henry. “The range of thought, the variety of various abilities, the variety of various concepts.”
The institution of Juneteenth as a federally acknowledged vacation supplies leaders like Henry one other alternative to have interaction with the workforce and repair members whereas offering mentorship for the subsequent technology of leaders.
“If you wish to see a change, you truly must do one thing,” stated Henry. “When you’re a junior Sailor or a junior civilian, you continue to have a purpose to attempt to do one thing. If it’s the suitable factor to do, you need to take the step.”
Regardless of any cultural or private variations, the mission has all the time been and would be the precedence, defined Henry. It’s the obligation of management to make use of the strengths and abilities of all people to enhance the group and full the mission.
“You’re taking the person, you see what the person has to supply, and you then deliver that potential for that particular person — their capabilities to bear in your downside set, the mission — and also you be sure that to maximise that,” stated Henry.
Following Henry’s remarks, Rear Adm. Mike Studeman, Commander, Workplace of Naval Intelligence, thanked him for his time and for talking to the workforce about his experiences.
“I thank Lt. Gen. Henry for visiting,” stated Studeman. “He’s an inspiration to us all and I cherish his friendship.”
This occasion was sponsored by the Naval Intelligence Exercise Variety, Fairness Inclusion and Accessibility (NIA DEIA) Workplace and the ONI Black Workers Main in Inclusion, Excellence, Imaginative and prescient, and Schooling Worker Readiness Group (BELIEVE ERG). The mission of the BELIEVE ERG is to develop an setting that fosters and promotes the creativity of all workers; skilled improvement and development of Black and African Individuals; consciousness of the impression of Black and African American cultures and contributions; and the identification or response to limitations to the hiring and development of Black and African Individuals.
