Everyone is replaceable. True or false? Why?

SFC Stephen King — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:43:54 -0400

Think about this are you irreplaceable or is their someone else that can do what you do are doing or planning to accomplish in this life?

Thus if you have a understanding that all people are replaceable it can help with your job production?

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 12 at 2015 10:47 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:47:05 -0400

There are people who do a phenomenal job and then there are those who do a great job. You may miss a person because of their abilities but the job goes on without them and you will survive. That's why the Navy always taught us to train our replacements. If you were missed you didn't do your job!

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Aug 12 at 2015 10:51 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:51:26 -0400

I served on a Destroyer Tender. We had a number of skills that were sourced by one sailor. If that sailor fell out for some reason, there were troubles to be had.

Other than that, no-one, including the CO to the CNO is irreplaceable...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 10:56 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:56:47 -0400

While we might like to think we are irreplaceable, we're just small parts of a bigger machine. The machine may shudder or falter a bit when we first leave but it will go on without us.

Response by COL Jonas Vogelhut made Aug 12 at 2015 10:58 AM

COL Jonas Vogelhut — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:58:43 -0400

Not everyone is replaceable if you expect to maintain the same level of proficiency or quality. Sure, many folks can do the same routine job, but specialized jobs will have a decrease in performance (or increase in performance) when the incumbent leaves. It is human nature to accept that people will leave, die, etc. and we will go on, but you may need to alter expectations on mission accomplishment, success, etc. For example, when the Presidents Hundred sharpshooter leaves, do you then accept more civilian casualties? In a most fast paced combat environment, can you train the new platoon leader fast enough to lead long range patrols? Do you want your brain surgeon to tap out and get replaced on your day of surgery?

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 11:13 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 11:13:25 -0400

SFC Stephen King Everyone is replaceable to a limit. If you have an individual that is hording jobs and doesn't want to share in training others this is a big issue. While the individual may feel that they are providing job security for themselves, they are are setting their command and the mission up for failure. If something happens to that individual now the command will have to jump through hoops to retrain someone else while dealing with the fall out. However like SCPO David Lockwood said, in the Navy, we as leaders are taught to are constantly train our replacements. No one individual should be more important than the overall mission.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 12 at 2015 11:18 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 11:18:52 -0400

When it comes to being with a company for a few years and getting a few perks and them saving money, EVERYONE is replaceable! I found that out the hard way one too many times. When push comes to shove ye with the highest pay and most benefits is the first to go if you are not at the executive level. Executives they can always seem to justify somehow but the average worker seems to always be expendable and replaceable. Hmm...

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 11:27 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 11:27:20 -0400

in the grand sense we are all replaceable. they can grab any nco off the base and with a little training they can do my job. it when you get to the micro scale of it that's where it makes a difference.
but realizing you are replaceable makes you realize that you can delegate any task to your subordinates and with a little help they can get it done.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Aug 12 at 2015 11:28 AM

MSgt James Mullis — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 11:28:56 -0400

I'm paraphrasing but I recall hearing George Carlin say that the second sign of insanity is believing that what you do for a living is really important (to the universe) and that the first sign of insanity is believing that you are the only one that can do it.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Aug 12 at 2015 11:46 AM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 11:46:39 -0400

Everyone is replaceable - and a good leader will understand that they NEED to be replaced and will mentor their replacement - and further, if you act like you are irreplaceable, you will likely not be an effective leader.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Aug 12 at 2015 11:49 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 11:49:28 -0400

SFC Stephen King Hell yeah we are. Even though the military says they care about you, deep down they don't. There is ALWAYS someone that is ready to take your place. I never thought that way until soon after one of my back surgeries (I was a PSG). My 1SG stopped me after PT and asked what the hell I was doing. I told her I was doing PT with my platoon. She told me not to be a dumb ass and take care of myself and take some time to heal properly. I told her that I thought I was ready and she advised me to make sure because the Army really didn't care because there is always some hard charger that is ready to come up and take my position. I never gave it a thought until that moment and advised my Soldiers the same thing from that day forward. I love our Army and gave my body to it and would do it all over again. But, if you think about it, it is the truth.

Response by CPO Greg Frazho made Aug 12 at 2015 12:03 PM

CPO Greg Frazho — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 12:03:30 -0400

In a word, yes. Or do you mean, Is everyone expendable? If so, my answer would be perhaps. I often said when I was on active: you'll leave the military in of three ways. 1.) By mutual agreement 2.) By statute. 3.) In a body bag. Eventually, everybody leaves active duty as they do this world. It's the cycle of life. That's why it's so important to NOT operate in a vacuum. If you make yourself indispensable, i.e., the single point of failure, that's what you've done: failed. However, if you pass on what you know to the sentry who relieves you, so to speak, you're galvanizing the future. Something to think about.

Response by SGT Christopher Churilla made Aug 12 at 2015 12:10 PM

SGT Christopher Churilla — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 12:10:20 -0400

In a larger sense, we are replaceable; the world doesn't fly apart every time someone dies. But to those people in our lives--family, friends, co-workers, etc--we are irreplacable because we brought something into their lives that they couldn't get from anyone else.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Aug 12 at 2015 12:31 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 12:31:26 -0400

Both/and. To those around me, I am completely irreplaceable. My children, my parents, my siblings, my wife (depending on when you ask her. haha), all would experience a long and permanent empty place with my absence.

In the grander scheme of things though, I will die and be forgotten at some point. I may accomplish great things, but chances are, if I didn't do it, someone else probably would have eventually. I may play my part in history, but chances are, I won't have to make a decision upon which all of human history will hinge.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Aug 12 at 2015 12:35 PM

COL Ted Mc — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 12:35:55 -0400

SFC Stephen King - Sergeant; Of course everyone is "replaceable" - that's one of the reason why there are babies.

The real questions are "How easy is it going to be to find the replacement?" and "Is it going to be possible to find the replacement in time?".

Now you are talking about "logistics" as well as "equipment" and the equation gets one heck of a lot more complicated.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Aug 12 at 2015 12:43 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 12:43:39 -0400

I will mark down TRUE...HOWEVER..... I am NOT replaceable. I will be the only father my daughter will have...others may come into her life, but I am her only dad. I am my wife's first (and so far) only husband....can that be replaced? Not entirely....if something were to happen to me, she could get remarried at some point...but I would still be her first husband (good, bad, or indifferent). For the work place....I think this is true. If not me, SOMEONE will pick up the tasks. Not saying they will be as good, or maybe even better then I....but I AM replaceable in the work centers.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Aug 12 at 2015 1:52 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 13:52:49 -0400

"I am a Marine. I am expendable." My replacement may not do as I did... But, we certainly, all, can be replaced.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 2:24 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:24:28 -0400

Read the Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Aug 12 at 2015 2:47 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:47:30 -0400

As a body, yes, we all are replaceable, and as long as we have that replacement, and that replacement is trained/can be minimally trained to perform said function, then job production will not suffer, or if it does, it is minimal/acceptable with the understanding production will equal or increase within a given time.
But as a person? No... There is only one of us, and when we're gone, that's it.
And let no one tell you differently... :)

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 7:46 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:46:14 -0400

Absolutely true! Nobody is irreplaceable. From the lowest Private to the Commander-in-Chief. There is always somebody ready to step up and do your job. It won't be the same individual (Frankl's intent, I'm sure), but the job will get done by the next guy or gal. That is for sure.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 8:12 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 20:12:01 -0400

There's only one person in this world that can do what I do and that is me. No one is replaceable the way a position can be refilled. Positions can always be filled by another person. Knowing that will that improve your performance?