Why I Serve

I served in the U.S. Army for 38 years, starting my career as an enlisted Soldier and rising to the rank of Brigadier General. I entered the Army Reserve during the end of the Viet Nam war era. I was in college, had a low draft number and decided to join a unit that a friend of mine was in. I was initially a personnel specialist and seemed to be doing most of the Company Commander’s work for him and not getting paid for it. I decided I kind of liked the Army and got commissioned through the National Guard Officer Candidate School (OCS) program in New York State.

I found that as I went up in rank over the years, the jobs got more fun and I really had passion for performing, competing, and doing the very best I could. I also had a passion and love for my soldiers in mentoring, guiding, and making sure their families were being taken care of. I highly encouraged my soldiers to do the very best in all that they did, making sure that each box was checked a “go” in each part of their life that was important to their success and the unit’s success. Certainly, the love of Country and for our way of life was a driver for me as well. I do miss it every day.

Throughout my Army career, I saw first-hand how the military provides a pathway to personal and professional success, and I was proud to play a role in safeguarding our nation. When I retired from the military, I knew I would continue to serve my community and my country.

General Williams on his farm in Mebane, NC with three of his grandchildren

I am a proud father of two daughters and two sons and grandfather of 14 grandkids and still counting. Both boys are officers in the U.S. Army Reserve and one son-in-law in the Navy Reserve. I have witnessed how my children and grandchildren have benefited from active lifestyles, high-quality educations, and most importantly, a strong family support system. However, not every child has these same opportunities.

For many children, especially those without strong role models at home, a high-quality pre-K program can make the difference between starting out on track, or already falling behind. The school system can also play an important role in developing lifelong healthy eating and activity habits. Once in elementary school, many children rely on school meals for their daily nutritional needs. Not only that, but a physical education class might be one of the few opportunities a child has to get exercise or learn a new sport.

Every child and every family has its own set of challenges, but one thing I know for certain is that at-risk youth are the ones we really need to look out for so that they are prepared for success in school and in life. That is why, in addition to providing for my family and tending to our farm in Mebane, North Carolina, I volunteer through our church by tutoring at-risk youth at one of the elementary schools in Mebane.

In the short time I have been doing this, I have discovered that, although kids are provided nutritious meals at the schools, many kids bring snacks from home that are very high in sugar. The kids seem to be eating this and ignoring the healthy, non-sugared food that is normally discarded. This is a challenge for teachers in controlling classrooms when kids have sugar highs after lunch. And this is also a continued challenge for community and school leaders to educate young parents to provide more nutritious snacks, drinks, and lunch coming from home. It certainly makes learning on the part of young children very difficult.

General Williams and Congressman Mark Walker (NC-06) celebrate Veterans Day with pre-K students from the UNC Greensboro Child Care Program

I joined Mission: Readiness in 2015 out of a serious concern, shared with 730 retired admirals and generals who also serve as members, that 71% of America’s 17- to 24-year-olds nationwide are ineligible to serve. This is primarily because they are too poorly educated, too overweight, or have a record of crime or drug abuse. In my home state of North Carolina, the ineligibility rate rises to 72%.

In my role as a member of Mission: Readiness, I have been active in promoting physical education and high-quality pre-K in the Tar Heel State.

Through my experiences working with and advocating for at-risk youth, I can vouch for how smart these kids are and their immense potential, if only they had the resources and support needed to overcome life’s challenges. Every child deserves a chance to grow up with a full range of career options, including the honor of serving his or her country. With so many ineligible to serve, more needs to be done to help children stay in school, stay fit, and stay out of trouble.

General Williams speaking about Mission: Readiness before Alamance County GOP leaders

On a positive note, I am privileged to sit on the Service Academy Nomination Board for Congressman Mark Walker. The board is made up of a mix of eight retired service members. We vet about 25 young folks from the Congressional District and create an order of merit and then make recommendation on service assignments. I am proud to say that there are still great young people across the schools that have an intense desire to serve the Nation. These kids are very intelligent, highly physically fit and have incredible community service even at a young age. Those are really happy days for us when we see how great these young folks are. We are blessed as a Nation to have them.

Serving as a leader in the Army, watching my children and grandchildren grow, and mentoring at-risk youth in North Carolina has been a great honor. I am blessed to continue my service in retirement by working to give more youth the opportunity to succeed, including in the military for those who choose to serve.