As a mentor, what pearl of wisdom can you give a junior Soldier, Sailor, or Marine in your career field to set them up for future success?

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:23:10 -0400

There is no question about the positive impact mentors can have on junior Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines. As a mentor, you get the unique opportunity to provide insight gleaned from years of experience and hopefully mentorship you received when you were in the same position. What is the most beneficial advice you could give a junior Soldier, Sailor, or Marine?

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jul 28 at 2015 7:25 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:25:05 -0400

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member Do not worry about stuff you have no control over. It will only cause undue stress. Great question Chief.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 28 at 2015 7:25 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:25:47 -0400

Never stop learning...if you think you mastered something, read more. If you think you read everything there is to read about your field, write something then read that. Learning is a continuous thing that we all must do while we continue to take up space on this earth.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 28 at 2015 7:30 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:30:48 -0400

Learn as much as you can in your job. Learn the good and bad from your leaders and use them to your advantage. Lead by example. Lead from the front and not from the back.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 28 at 2015 7:39 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:39:06 -0400

Treat people right. Follow the golden rule. Be empathetic. Be firm and fair.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 28 at 2015 7:39 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:39:57 -0400

Lead by example

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Jul 28 at 2015 7:41 AM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:41:06 -0400

That the team is bigger than yourself and every single job is important - we are all in this fight together - soldiers, sailors, marines - and COAST GUARD & AIRMEN! :-)

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Jul 28 at 2015 8:06 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:06:29 -0400

I found it difficult to be selfless when I was young and new to the military. Part of it was I hadn't bought in fully to the idea we were all in it together, and we could make it good or make it bad together. Now I know that if you work to make the team better and stronger, you are stronger and better yourself. And don't worry about it...people will take notice.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 28 at 2015 8:21 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:21:19 -0400

Be the go to guy or gal. They will be more respected.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 8:23 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:23:01 -0400

Seek a mentor of someone outside your chain of command in a position and person you respect and want to be like them. Be that to someone later on in your career. Dont shy away from helping others even if you are the same year group.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 9:49 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:49:45 -0400

Establish and know your circle of influence and circle of concern and don't sweat stuff that falls in neither. Also remember that doing nothing is sometimes the best thing a leader can do .....many problems will self resolve if left alone.

Would also tell junior folks to try and solve problems at the lowest level.....not everything needs a SNCO to fix .....but if you get a SNCO involved it will be fixed.....but probably not the way you expected. Use to tell my folks all the time you are empowered to solve your own problems.....if they become my problems I will solve them ....but will solve them my way.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jul 28 at 2015 9:56 AM

SGT William Howell — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:56:35 -0400

Carry a notebook just for leadership notes. Write down everything good or bad that you think is important. Tell why you thought that at the time and would you would change or keep. SFC Bond was the worst PTL SGT I ever had. I learned a ton from him. Basically, if he did something I would do just the opposite. I had it all in my notebook of why it was wrong and what I would do differently. I use it to this day. (If you are wondering if SFC Bond will be offended by me calling him out; I don't think so. He is doing time in a federal penitentiary and probably does not have internet anyway. He was that bad!)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 10:58 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 10:58:04 -0400

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member I will pass on the same pearls of wisdom that were given to me. "You must walk as if you are inside a crystal ball, your integrity can never be questioned" and "Your NCOs will be your strength, never lose that."

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Jul 28 at 2015 11:35 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 11:35:23 -0400

Don't worry about the other guy. Do your job and always work to help your team mates.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jul 28 at 2015 11:41 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 11:41:32 -0400

Set the example.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 12:08 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:08:22 -0400

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member Great post as usual. Maintain your integrity at all cost. Be a team player. Work on your effective communications skills. Always strive to find ways to make your organization better. Aim to enhance your military and civilian education levels. Identify your boss, understand their mission intent and goals and make them your own. Develop short and long term professional goals. Ba problem solver and not a problem producer. Find a mentor and become a mentor. Most importantly, have fun.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jul 28 at 2015 12:20 PM

SFC Stephen King — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:20:59 -0400

Non verbal communication is 80% of the communication process. Be aware of yourself and don't be afraid to fail.

The fact of the matter is that the exact number is irrelevant. Knowing that communication is specifically 75% nonverbal or 80% nonverbal holds no practical applications. The important part is that most communication is nonverbal. In fact, nonverbal behavior is the most crucial aspect of communication.

Response by CW3 Bill Golden made Jul 28 at 2015 1:52 PM

CW3 Bill Golden — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:52:56 -0400

Education matters. Be a reader. Formal education is essential but it will only teach you so much. Employers and your future military challenges will reward you for your formal systems (education) approach to problem solving but they will reward you even more for being creative ... and being successfully creative takes knowledge. So supplement your formal education with being a constant reader.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 3:00 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:00:36 -0400

Right place, right time and right uniform.
When in doubt, ask. When uncertain, get clarification.
If you are senior, take charge.
Get the requirement. Identify and report constraints. Execute.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 1:23 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 01:23:43 -0400

This advice is to all Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Women, and our Coast Guardsmen. Learn your job and the next pay grade up. Also have faith and trust in your seniors and subordinates. You can learn a lot by listening to them. This is to include your juniors. JK

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 4:57 PM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 16:57:13 -0400

Showing up on time in the correct uniform is half the battle. Take pride in your appearance and you will show others the pride you have in yourself. Lastly, take pride in your job no matter how small. if your job is to clean the toilets, then you be the best damn toilet cleaner there is because hard work is always noticed soon or later.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jul 31 at 2015 2:06 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 02:06:06 -0400

You learn more from when your fail. You learn even more when you get back up. I really like what Yoda said about trying in that he said something like, there is no try, there is only do.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 1 at 2015 12:19 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 00:19:49 -0400

Don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't know something. I may not tell you the answer, but I will always tell you where you can find the answer. If you still don't understand I will explain it to you. I will also tell you if I don't know the answer but I will find out and let you know in turn (yes I did this with subordinates, not just with my own mentors).

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 1 at 2015 12:31 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 00:31:29 -0400

Suck it in and suck it up!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2015 7:14 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 07:14:08 -0400

Don't be a lunk. Take your lumps and get past it. If you hold a grudge in the Military, you might as well find a Chapter that suits you and go work at McDonald's in Seattle/LA/NYC for $15/hr.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 6 at 2015 5:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 17:07:05 -0400

You will be joining a hallowed institution that changed the world. Be part of that great tradition.

Response by PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels made Aug 6 at 2015 11:56 PM

PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 23:56:26 -0400

Always remember where you started.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Aug 24 at 2015 1:18 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:18:31 -0400

Learn a trade you can take with you. No matter what you do in life, you can fall back on a skill you learned in the military. While I loved my time in Missile artillery it had zero translation into real world employment. I tell kids today, learn something you can take with you.