President Selected to Attend Prestigious Army War College
Sorority scores another first!
Alpha Kappa Alpha scored another first when International President Barbara A. McKinzie was selected to attend the National Security Seminar (NSS) at the prestigious U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, PA. The event takes place June 1-5.
McKinzie is one of 160 new members selected worldwide. She will join student seminar groups during the NSS, which come from a cross-section of American life and represent a broad range of occupations, geographic regions and age groups.
New members may be nominated by a variety of sources, including prior NSS attendees, War College students and alumni, staff, faculty and the Army War College Foundation, as well as the Secretary of the Army's civilian aides from around the country.
"It is an achievement that warrants celebration. What an honor for our beloved Sorority," Gen. Solomon declared.
According to the Department of National Security & Strategy, which embraces the Army War College, those invited do not have an association with the military, and this was purposeful because this non-military association encourages a free and frank exchange of differing views among the guests and students.
As part of her involvement, McKinzie will share her views on issues of importance to the nation's security and welfare with students, International Fellows and faculty of the Army War College, as well as new members from across the country. She will also interact with top military personnel.
Most significantly, the seminar will provide McKinzie and the other selectees the opportunity to meet with some of the future leaders of the armed forces and government and, in turn, permit the students to better understand the society they serve.
Approximately eight new members are assigned to each of the 20 student seminar groups. They are invited to become active participants in the discussions and encouraged to probe and examine the seminar group's ideas vigorously and critically, in order to give the students the benefits of their own personal experience and perspectives.
Each day features a guest speaker who sets the theme for the day's discussions. Speakers cover topics such as the challenges of civil-military relations, the role of domestic politics in national security, globalization, foreign policy, international security issues and the future role of the United States.
McKinzie will also be honored at an Achievement Dinner hosted by AKA member Brigadier General Allyson Solomon and other military Department of Defense members of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Gen. Solomon said that McKinzie's nomination and subsequent selection were testaments to the strength of her stature, vision, proven leadership skills and impact. "It is an achievement that warrants celebration. What an honor for our beloved Sorority," she declared.
"Alpha Kappa Alpha marks another milestone with our high-profile participation in this prestigious program," said McKinzie. "It provides another global forum where we can exhibit leadership and nurture future leaders, which is one of the cornerstones of this administration. It also allows our Sorority to reach a segment of the population whose sense of duty mirrors our mission: to serve all mankind."