CSM’s Corner: Despite upheavals, keep your eye on the big picture

By Command Sergeant Major Kristie BradyJanuary 26, 2021

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Greetings CECOM Team,

Welcome to 2021! This is the first month of a fresh new year, and it has already been filled with many changes. In addition to the regular flow of current events, we are still in the middle of a deadly global pandemic. Through all of this, you have continued to keep the warfighter and our important mission first.

The process of vaccinating the workforce is well underway here at APG and at sites across the world. The vaccine is our opportunity to protect ourselves and one another so we can start the process of lessening restrictions. Please consider taking it as soon as it is available to you. There is a lot of information and disinformation out there regarding the vaccine, and I know it can get confusing. This vaccine has been authorized as safe and does not contain the live virus, which means it cannot give you COVID-19. Taking the vaccine also does not mean you can stop wearing masks and social distancing. The vaccination of our communities will be a complex process, and we will keep you updated of the best ways to stay safe along the way. If you have any questions, please reach out directly to your healthcare providers. They are the best source of medical information as you make these decisions for yourself and your families.

In addition to the pandemic, we have also experienced turmoil on a national level with the attack on the Capitol building. The Army condemned this assault on our democracy and values, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff reminded all American forces that we are sworn to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." If you have any questions regarding your role as a federal employee, please ask your supervisor for clarity. In conjunction with the new administration, we also had a change in our civilian leadership with new Acting Secretary of the Army John E. Whitley. These moments with big shifts can seem difficult and confusing. I challenge you all to view them as an opportunity to have conversations and get to know one another better. This is our chance to come together and strengthen our team. We are all lucky to be a part of the CECOM family, and I encourage you to take advantage of that. Unity is such an important facet of the S.O.U.L. of CECOM. We can be the example.

This month CECOM and APG also remembered the amazing contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King dedicated his life to a dream of equality and challenged the nation to judge people not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Our Army values echo the way Dr. King encouraged us to treat one another. Our differences only make us stronger. If you were not able to tune in to our observance event, please follow this link to view the recording: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YmIwZmQ0OGItODU3Zi00YjZjLWI5NmEtNTlkYTUyYzU2MWFk%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2221acfbb3-32be-4715-9025-1e2f015cbbe9%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2264d32387-b2c4-4471-bf57-f2d7460aecdd%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d

And finally, I would like to congratulate the sergeants first class of CECOM who have made the Fully Qualified List to master sergeant. Your hard work and dedication has paid off, and I look forward to your continued leadership to our Soldiers of this great nation.

I encourage you to continue seeing the big picture and focus on protecting and supporting our service members. They count on us, and we count on them. Thank you for continuing to be a part of this Army family.

People First, Winning Matters, Army Strong!

your CECOM CSM,

Kristie Brady