Posted on Jan 27, 2014
SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
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My personal thoughts is we make snap decisions as a condition of fighting,    Can we fail to understand people of lower ranks ?   Are there decisions binding or are you fighting both sites.
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SCPO Hospital Corpsman
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Edited >1 y ago


What a great
question.

 Learning has many avenues that new information may increase your
understanding of the world around us. 

Maturity
has shown me that I can learn from small children, to seniors and yes sometime even animals have taught me something. I think listening and watching all people no matter their age provides lessons and value. For the reason
that each person gains experiences from their surroundings, backgrounds, cultures, or the way they approach
a problem and gain understanding. That very concept that others experience makes for
wisdom and listening to other people’s ideas will make you stronger in the ways
of problem-solving.

"Wisdom involves using past experience to help solve a
current situation," For example if you lived in the city your entire life you bet a
12 year old that has lived in the country can teach you plenty about country life. "Having successfully
survived difficult situations, I know that many older people often want to discount the advice
of their younger workers, but I also know that those that can set aside their egos can learn that
even young people can apply their knowledge and experience to make task easier
or drive change. So yes I can learn from younger people. Wisdom means keeping an
open mind to better or more appropriate ways to solve a problem." So why not take advantage of all avenues of information.



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SPC Squad Member
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At 18 years old I'm probably the youngest or one of the youngest on RP and I believe that everyone has something to offer. It takes an open mind to be willing to learn from someone younger than yourself but I believe that age should not be and indicator of worth or maturity. On certain topics age doesn't mean anything in terms of experience. I have a 19 year old friend who has been doing Muay Thai for 12 years and I think he has more to offer than a 30 year old who's been doing it for five years. I try to make it a point to learn from anyone who has something of value to offer regardless of age. My younger brother reads my mom's DSM for fun so I'd be more willing to take his word on a mental disorder than an older person with general life experience.
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
10 y

This is a pretty difficult story but after 15 years my daughter returned to me.   And eventually she came back to live with me after she sought me out.   What makes me the proudest is her ability to work around potentially volatile situations.    She proved that one day to me in a way that was profoundly special.  


She grew up near Los Angeles and had to deal with the diversity and she learned well as when she went to Tampa,  that school she went to was a powderkeg.


Around Christmas one year I gave her a lot of money for clothes and she was wise her money and her closet was full of new clothing.   But she was frugal and amazingly mature for her age.


More than anything after all that adversity she told me that that was her favorite Christmas ever and started crying.  When I bought the new Harry Potter when she was 15,  she was like a child again.   But that helped me too,  as I learned a lot about her as a young lady and a person.  Sometimes we put far too much emphasis on our age and less about the things that matter and a kid who had to grow up like she did is no fool.


Suffice it to say that experience has no real replacement but there is enough room for the wise man to consider alternatives.

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SPC Squad Member
SPC (Join to see)
10 y
Thank you for the story SSgt Olson It seems like she has a good head on her shoulders, you have every right to be proud.
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CSM Infantry Senior Sergeant
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In my opinion not only can you learn from someone younger than you but surrounding yourself with this younger generation provides us with a critical insight to who they are and how they see themselves.
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SFC Operations Targeting Nco
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This is very true 1sg..... we old dogs may know we may know everything from time and experiences, but the younger generation is being taught the new things before they get to us.......COOL for example
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SGT 25 L/U Instructor
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10 y
I completely agree. It's not much of an age gap, but I have a newly promoted CPL who is 3 years younger than me, with only 2 years in service versus my 8, and I learn from him every time I see him. His leadership skills astound me, and though we are Reservists and his civilian job has nothing to do with his MOS, his knowledge of his equipment and SOPs is equally astounding. We recently conducted our Annual Training, and he was the soldier in charge of the entire Comms site. Not our acting 1SG, or any of our other NCOs, this E-4 ruled the roost because of his knowledge and leadership. 
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