Posted on Sep 3, 2018
What can we do about the military culture that rejects the experience of junior Enlisted?
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Here's a great article on the topic. https://foreignpolicy-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/foreignpolicy.com/2017/02/23/our-untapped-resource-junior-enlisted/amp/
I believe that if the concepts encapsulated in this article were fully integrated throughout the Army, the retention problem would disappear, and an unimaginable number of other problems would be solved.
I believe that if the concepts encapsulated in this article were fully integrated throughout the Army, the retention problem would disappear, and an unimaginable number of other problems would be solved.
Retention
Junior Enlisted
Experience
Culture
Problem Solving
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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I agree in principal and am an advocate that we need to listen to and provide opportunities for the millenial leaders we have to feelnlijentheyeill be listened to.
However, when you say junior enlisted, I think of E-4 and below. The vast majority of this group does not have “experience” to bring to the table. There are older Soldiers that join who do (they vary in maturity though) and opportunities should be provided for them.
However, when you say junior enlisted, I think of E-4 and below. The vast majority of this group does not have “experience” to bring to the table. There are older Soldiers that join who do (they vary in maturity though) and opportunities should be provided for them.
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SGT (Join to see)
SPC Zach Lockhart - I definitely understand that. I saw that. In my case, I got halfway lucky and landed in some spots with the right people.
In the article, however, the writer brings up a good point. He writes, “During my first three years in the Marine Corps, I worked with an accountant, an investment banker, a legal assistant, an aerospace engineer, a teacher, a firefighter, and a bunch of retired drug dealers.
The crazy thing, thankfully for the drug dealers especially, is that none of them were doing those jobs in the Marine Corps. In fact, every person on that list was an infantryman..”
Despite all of that accumulated experience, none of it really qualifies you to be an infantryman in the Marines. (Conversely, if you take a 30 yr Sergeant Major, that doesn’t really qualify him to go be an investment banker or aerospace engineer or drug dealer).
When learning a new job in a new industry, you have to start at the bottom. For the gentlemen in that article, they completely switched industries. Have to learn from the bottom up. I’ve been there. All the fancy letters after my name, teaching in college..big deal. My choices were go to OCS and not be guaranteed of the field I’d end up in, or enlist as an E4 and get in writing everything I wanted. I chose something closely related to my experience, and it sort of paid off.
For an aerospace engineer choosing to be an infantryman... well I’ve walked with enough infantrymen to know that aerospace engineering isn’t really a prerequisite.
In the article, however, the writer brings up a good point. He writes, “During my first three years in the Marine Corps, I worked with an accountant, an investment banker, a legal assistant, an aerospace engineer, a teacher, a firefighter, and a bunch of retired drug dealers.
The crazy thing, thankfully for the drug dealers especially, is that none of them were doing those jobs in the Marine Corps. In fact, every person on that list was an infantryman..”
Despite all of that accumulated experience, none of it really qualifies you to be an infantryman in the Marines. (Conversely, if you take a 30 yr Sergeant Major, that doesn’t really qualify him to go be an investment banker or aerospace engineer or drug dealer).
When learning a new job in a new industry, you have to start at the bottom. For the gentlemen in that article, they completely switched industries. Have to learn from the bottom up. I’ve been there. All the fancy letters after my name, teaching in college..big deal. My choices were go to OCS and not be guaranteed of the field I’d end up in, or enlist as an E4 and get in writing everything I wanted. I chose something closely related to my experience, and it sort of paid off.
For an aerospace engineer choosing to be an infantryman... well I’ve walked with enough infantrymen to know that aerospace engineering isn’t really a prerequisite.
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COL William Oseles
I have been both a SPC and through the ranks to COL in Air Defense. The experience in both cases are very different. As a SPC I got to be very good at fixing Radars and IFF, something an LT to CPT don't know. But at the same time as a SPC I knew squat about running a Battery or providing Air Defense for a Brigade and later Air and Missile Defense at the CONUS level.
Different levels have different expertise and experience.
Different levels have different expertise and experience.
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LTC Stephan Porter
I agree with you SGT (Join to see), but you just are not the norm. I had a couple Soldiets in my platoon and company that match the potential high performers.
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I agree with the CSM, this is a broad allegation. Also, words having meaning. There is a difference between “listening” and “hearing” what someone is saying. At the end of the day, experience drives credibility and ensures sound advice and decision making. Imagine how LTs feel, they are in charge but rarely does anyone listen to them. I’m sure that just like the occasional Junior Enlisted, LTs have a good idea now and again. I believe leaders must balance hearing thier Soldiers and taking recommendations when they are sound. It is hard to argue that experience will always drives a person’s value and input. We’ve all been there...
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This is a great article and highlights the fact the military as a whole tends to favor top heavy decision making without at least input from those who carry out the mission. I have met plenty of junior enlisted who brought their civilian career skills or knowledge bases to good use but not fully recognized or appreciated by senior leadership.
I will say though I feel some of the culture has changed, particularly with some of the younger leaders I have encounteed being willing to get to know their troops a bit better at a more personal level and have more genuine concern for their wellbeing. One medical officer I worked for was more than happy to leverage the fact I was a paramedic and my battle being a nurse civilian side and gave us a lot of leeway in running our very small role II overseas.
Again, great article.
I will say though I feel some of the culture has changed, particularly with some of the younger leaders I have encounteed being willing to get to know their troops a bit better at a more personal level and have more genuine concern for their wellbeing. One medical officer I worked for was more than happy to leverage the fact I was a paramedic and my battle being a nurse civilian side and gave us a lot of leeway in running our very small role II overseas.
Again, great article.
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