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Importance of The Charge
The Charge is a documentary film that chronicles the true story of Command Sergeant Major Teresa L. King. The film’s purpose and intent are not to weaponize any actions or events against individuals featured in the story or against the United States military. The film looks to bring awareness on important topics in hopes that the US military can learn from these events, heal, and become a better organization for current and future soldiers. The injustices documented in the film took place at one of our country’s most distinguished institutions, the United States Army Drill Sergeant School. This illustrious school’s mission centers on training those leaders that instruct and groom every recruit that enters the US Army. The injustices done to CSM King struck and compromised the core foundation of the Army. The mission of The Charge is to remind viewers that compromising standards, discipline, and ethical behavior can destroy the very institution that is charged to teach and instruct these values.
George Washington said, “Discipline is the spirit of the Army.” In that vein, if those who are charged with instilling discipline fail to lead by example in that most fundamental attribute, how can we as a nation fight and win future wars and ultimately live up to the standards that make us all Americans?
Story background
CSM Teresa King, the United States Army’s first female Commandant of the Drill Sergeant School was improperly relieved from her position after suffering years of harassment and discrimination at the hands of her superiors. What began as requests being ignored and public belittlement eventually turned into gaslighting, complete isolation from her peers, and the untimely end of her career. Left with nothing but her own will and determination to prevent the cycle from being repeated, The Charge tells CSM King story of gender and racial discrimination, harassment, and the fight to clear her name within a broken system.
King’s charge
The Charge is a spiritual calling given to advance our military service in the area of equal rights and fair treatment for all. The advancement of women and equality for all is what is most important. The story of CSM Teresa L. King’s Charge is a call to go within ourselves and examine how we use our power. Does it bring honor to those we lead regardless of our differences, or does it compromise the values we are charged to live out?
Film synopsis
The Charge tells the inspirational and remarkable story of Command Sergeant Major Teresa King, the US Army’s first female and Black Commandant of the US Army Drill Sergeant School. Through interviews and reenactments, the story chronicles CMS King’s enlisting in the US Army and highlights moments in her glass-ceiling breaking career that accumulated to her being assigned Commandant of the United States Army Drill Sergeant School at Fort Jackson, SC. The film documents the unwarranted allegations and suspension that forced her early retirement, and her continued quest for a complete public vindication and redemption of her name and service. The Charge is a documentary-drama that will educate, motivate and inspire audiences through the journey of one of the most decorated enlisted soldiers in US military history.
A NOSLACK TLKING, LLC Production in partnership with The Minority Films Institute