THE INTEGRITY PATH
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MCON Inspiring Through Core Values
Gary Littrell spoke at MCON in Las Vegas, sharing The Integrity Path’s timeless message rooted in the six core values of the Medal of Honor — courage, commitment, sacrifice, citizenship, patriotism, and integrity.
His powerful remarks highlighted how these values continue to shape the strength and character of today’s military, veterans, and families and how they can guide our nation’s youth as the next generation of leaders.
We were deeply inspired by our meeting with Jessica Vargas, a Marine veteran who served two deployments to Iraq (2003 and 2004). Together, we are exploring ways to connect families, veterans, and young people through the shared foundation of values that have carried our nation through its greatest challenges.
Value Connection: The Integrity Path views gatherings like MCON as opportunities to frame national dialogue through the lens of enduring values, lived daily by veterans, families, and youth thus ensuring the next generation understands what courage, commitment, and citizenship truly mean.
Forging Leaders at the University of Tennessee: Army ROTC and the Six Core Values
Army ROTC at the University of Tennessee’s Rocky Top Battalion is one of the nation’s premier leadership programs, shaping students into leaders ready to excel in both military and civilian careers. Through hands-on training, field exercises, and classroom instruction, cadets gain critical skills in leadership, communication, decision-making, and strategic thinking. They also benefit from valuable scholarships, monthly stipends, and in-state tuition options, making ROTC both an educational and financial opportunity.
With a proud legacy dating back to 1844, UT’s program emphasizes service, teamwork, and the “Volunteer Spirit,” preparing students not only to lead but also to serve their communities and country with honor.
Recently, Medal of Honor recipients Gary Littrell and Joe Marm visited campus to share powerful lessons on leadership and character. Their conversations centered on the Six Core Values of the Medal of Honor: Courage, Commitment, Sacrifice, Integrity, Citizenship, and Patriotism. They spoke about how these principles shaped their decisions under pressure and how they remain essential to leadership in every aspect of life.
Their visit reminded cadets that true leadership is rooted in character — guiding them to act with integrity, inspire trust, and make a lasting difference in the world around them.
“Six Core Values, One Brave Heart:
The Story of Sgt. Ray E. Duke”
Suzanne Littrell recently visited two remarkable schools — Tommie F. Brown Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and The Redemption Point Christian Academy — to share powerful lessons from the Medal of Honor Society’s Character Development Program with second graders. She was joined by Cherie McCloughan, wife of Medal of Honor recipient James McCloughan, and Christina Slabinski, wife of Medal of Honor recipient Britt Slabinski. Together, they shared stories of six Medal of Honor heroes whose lives exemplify the core values of Courage, Commitment, Sacrifice, Integrity, Patriotism, and Citizenship.
Though different in their approaches — Brown Academy is a STEM-designated school known for fostering curiosity, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, while Redemption Point emphasizes character, faith, and service as guiding principles — both schools share a common goal: preparing students to think critically, work together, and lead with integrity.
In both visits, students were deeply moved by the story of Sergeant First Class Ray E. Duke, who during the Korean War showed extraordinary bravery by ordering his men to leave him behind so they could reach safety. This act of sacrifice set the stage for a hands-on STEM challenge where students designed and built a stretcher capable of carrying a “wounded” potato across a simulated battlefield. The activity demonstrated how teamwork, innovation, and perseverance — values embodied by Duke — can make a real difference in challenging situations.
For Suzanne, Cherie, and Christina, the visits were deeply meaningful opportunities to connect with young learners. They shared not only stories of heroism but also the message that these six values are not just military ideals — they are guiding principles for life. By the end of the day, students at both schools walked away inspired to live with courage, act with integrity, and work together to make their communities stronger.
The Integrity Path Joins
STARBASE in Shaping Futures
The Integrity Path was honored to join DOD STARBASE, a program dedicated to inspiring students through hands-on STEM education. While STARBASE leads the way in science, technology, engineering, and math, our role was to support their mission by sharing the Six Core Values of the Medal of Honor—courage, commitment, sacrifice, integrity, citizenship, and patriotism. Medal of Honor recipient Gary Littrell and Suzanne Littrell spoke with students, encouraging them to see how these timeless values can guide their choices both inside and outside the classroom.
Together, The Integrity Path and STARBASE are building a collaborative relationship to give students both the technical tools and the character foundation they need for their future. For many, this is a true tipping point—a moment where they decide which direction their life will take. By combining STEM education with values that shape citizenship and leadership, we aim to inspire students to take the right path forward.
Courage
Comittment
Sacrifice
Integrity
Citizenship
Patriotism
This video captures a heartfelt reflection from a student who shares how deeply she connected with Gary Littrell’s message. More than just appreciating his words, she truly understood the power of his presence and leadership. She saw him not only as a Medal of Honor recipient but as someone the world and especially students truly need. His values-centered guidance, she explains, inspires young people to live with purpose, integrity, and courage. For her, Gary isn’t just a hero,he’s a life-changer.
In Her Own Words: The Impact of Gary's Story.
