Do military personnel focus on their career more then the brotherhood side of the military?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:14:39 -0400

Ever thought about it? It seems like people are more wanting to rise above their peers then to be building the bond that makes this military so popular amongst the nation this is a strange questing but I notice when I talk to allot of people it seems like they are worried about their career more then anything. Yes?

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jun 18 at 2018 1:16 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:16:05 -0400

I focus on the Brotherhood.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Jun 18 at 2018 1:23 PM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:23:34 -0400

It all depends on what you want. If you want a career in the military then you should always be trying to improve yourself. As you advance your peer group will change and they will have many of the goals you have. Some if the strongest bonds I had were later in my career. Many young enlisted not sure of what they want so bonds that seem tight now easily fade away.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Jun 18 at 2018 1:39 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:39:13 -0400

there will always be BROTHERHOOD and networking with your brothers will get you a good CAREER.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2018 1:59 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:59:40 -0400

From 40 years ago, I most remember making formations and following orders. Any social aspect of service came later. The first hitch was mostly survival mode, with a lot of good times and challenges.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2018 2:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 14:09:02 -0400

I have always found the way to getting promoted is taking care of your Soldiers and spending your free time on education.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 18 at 2018 2:26 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 14:26:49 -0400

I focused a lot of energy to help the enlisted become better soldiers and worked to give them every advantage I could give them. My promotions were just icing on the cake.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jun 18 at 2018 2:27 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 14:27:48 -0400

Not sure that is or is not the case. I think there is a balance. One needs to build relationships and support their Team, at the same time they must do those tasks that enable them to advance their career. Evryone has needs, the need for security is right their at the top. Again, I do not believe you have to sacrifice one over the other Thank you for your service.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jun 18 at 2018 2:56 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 14:56:57 -0400

I can only speak to what I felt and that was that I wasn't there to make friends. Being a Soldier was my job, it was not my life, and just as with any other job it was not a requirement for me to make friends with my co-workers. That being said, it is nearly impossible to spend THAT much time with people and not make a friend or two. The "brotherhood" cannot be forced. There are people that I spent very little time with during my service who I still talk to often now that we are all out and there are those that I spent innumerable hours with that I would rather shoot myself than speak to. I think that the brotherhood will appear and form naturally and it will often form between people who are pushing one another forward in their career. I obviously made friends with my peers who were faster to earn our chevrons than those who were okay with remaining PFCs and SPCs for many years. I hung out with the people that I recognized similar interests were shared with. There isn't a specific "brotherhood side" of the military. It just happens. The brotherhood that does form is just stronger than most because of what we also endure alongside one another.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jun 18 at 2018 3:19 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 15:19:25 -0400

If you plan on being a career soldier, than concentrate on your career. You need schools, duty positions, and other things. You can be that career Specialist if you want, the National Guard is full of them. Keep in mind every grade you make today is a little more, (and I emphasis the word "little") for you and your future family. That can be the difference in going somewhere nice for dinner, that weekend trip, or walking around the barracks bitching there is nothing to do this weekend, because you shot your paycheck with your buddies on payday, now you have two more weeks to go before your next check.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jun 18 at 2018 4:39 PM

PO3 David Fries — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 16:39:14 -0400

I was always more concerned about the brotherhood than my career.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2018 6:41 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 18:41:06 -0400

This is a great question and not one easily answered. Military people by their very nature are high achievers. I was very fortunate that when I was a Captain during my first and second company commands had a healthy competitiveness with my fellow commanders. It became bragging rights in our battalion to be the first to finish so you could offer your fellow commanders your assistance with that being said I grew up in a time that taught that good leaders took care of their soldiers To me this meant seeing that they were properly trained in their tasks and skills, as well as, ensuring they were safe and healthy. I also focused on my career because as I said, military people, including myself are high achievers. one thing I can truly say is that i personally have never put my career above the welfare of my soldiers. The question did make me think though as I’ve seen the other approach more frequently lately.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jun 19 at 2018 8:31 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 20:31:39 -0400

You build bonds among your peers and others. I have been retired since 95- and I still hear from my troops and friends.

Response by SFC Christopher Taggart made Jun 19 at 2018 9:06 PM

SFC Christopher Taggart — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 21:06:08 -0400

Private Bollinger...because Servicemembers are very "transitional," thinking about building any kind of relationship, other than a working relationship, it doesn't happen. You do make friends, because you'll have similar experiences at your current unit, but when you PCS, you are gone and will make new friends. I served twenty-plus years in the military and I have no idea what happened to anyone I knew before. "Brotherhood" is a term you see in the movies. It's the same thing in the civilian world, everyone is very "transitional."

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2018 9:39 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 21:39:08 -0400

Wow. This question even came up. While we focused on career, I don’t think my brothers and I ever put the two together or one over the other. I don’t know how you can have a successful career in the military and especially Marines without brotherhood. Success IS the team.

Has me concerned if the troops are starting to evaluate this.

Commanders, time to get in front of this.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Aug 13 at 2018 12:46 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 12:46:33 -0400

I believe in the Brotherhood of the military but there are a lot of people who think of only themselves and want everything out of their career even the kitchen sink.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 13 at 2018 3:07 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 15:07:33 -0400

Slippery slope here. The "brotherhood of service" won't pay your bills. The "brotherhood of service", won't know who you are once you've become an outcast. The "brotherhood of service" can't be put on a resume. Now that I got that part out....

The 11 Principles of Armed Forces Leadership
Know yourself and seek self-improvement.
Be technically and tactically proficient.
Develop a sense of responsibility among your subordinates.
Make sound and timely decisions.
Set an example.
Know your people and look out for their welfare.
Keep your people informed.
Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.
Ensure assigned tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.
Train your people as a team.
Employ your team in accordance with its capabilities.

Along with the Creed, this is all I really care for. It takes care of my Joes, it takes care of me, and if those two are GTG, then mission accomplished. I acknowledge there is a "brotherhood of service", and am not knocking it. Problem with that is it becomes subjective as to what it is, who is "allowed in" (POG vs non-POG's), and doesn't build on the TEAM belief which in any MOS or branch is the most important thing. "One team one fight" doesn't separate between one and the other; it means (cough cough) I see the crayon eaters and the Coast Guard as my peers, and would go the extra mile to help them. I actually believe in the Team concept, and wish it were alive in the civilian world. That is one place where it's spoken on, but damn sure isn't believed in.

Looking at your rank now, I'd tell you not to worry about "the brotherhood" just yet. Find your place in the TEAM, and make yourself indepensible with them. Become the SME on your piece of equipment and if possible every other one around you. Teach it to those with you, so now it's become a Team effort where all of you become the most important and knowledgeable people in your BN. Folks will take notice when a shit hot PV2 or PFC is giving factual instruction on equipment to those who could be two or three ranks above them. As you progress and your rank rises long with your responsibility, you'll see that what you did now will play a healthy role in what you'll do then. Don't worry about catchphrases. Just look out for your left and rights. Make sure they're looking out for you too. Set the example, and you're going to have detractors, setbacks, and those who will do everything in their power to trip you up. Stay the course, remember who/what you are, and drive right through/and over them with extreme prejudice.

Response by SPC David S. made Jun 12 at 2019 2:10 PM

SPC David S. — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 14:10:20 -0400

Brotherhood and rank aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. Being focused on your brothers/sisters could in fact result in being promoted and being promoted could as well result in a tighter bond with military community/service members.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 12 at 2019 2:16 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 14:16:35 -0400

There are those who genuinely care about others, and there are those who genuinely care about themselves. The selfish ones are often toxic.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2019 4:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 16:48:39 -0500

Yes without a doubt. Being a SPC and having most of my contemporaries be SPC, the overwhelming majority ETS because of bad leadership , and leadership caring more for their career and how they look on paper, rather than the soldiers under them.