US Army Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson was recently profiled (at The Root, a website for “African-American influencers”) as an example of diversity in the US military, given her position as the “most senior-ranking black woman” in the military made her an indicator of the “color of change.”

While there are often many criticisms regarding the practice of highlighting “differences” in a world that is supposedly blind to such differences, Gen Anderson did make one comment that is valuable in discussions about being an example to others [emphasis added]: 

One day, while walking with two senior male officers, about six female soldiers marched by in a formation, going about their duties.

“They caught sight of me and their faces just lit up. And they saluted me as if those two guys were not there…,” Anderson recalled, chuckling… “One of the officers said, ‘Well, I guess we’re just chopped liver.’ I said, ‘Yes, sir, I guess you are.’

“…I realized then that I needed to stay because I needed to motivate more young women to follow the same course…”

It is often true that people who see someone who shares some of their traits — either physically, as with Gen Anderson, or in ideology or values — in positions of success and leadership will be inspired to those positions themselves.

That’s why Christians in the US military should be as bold themselves in living their faith in their profession. The public model of Christians in the military will demonstrate to others — both within the military and outside of it — that they can be both Christians and successful professionals in the US military.

Public “controversies” and confusion about the rules have caused some military Christians to unnecessarily self-censor — and others to be threatened with punishment. Hopefully, thanks to a push from the US Congress, these issues will be corrected, and there will be a resurgence of the religious freedom within the US military it so proudly protects outside of it.

Repeated at the Stars and Stripes.

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