Find Your Cause

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 09:05:28 -0400

Are you in a career field you hate? Do you feel stuck? Do you lack motivation or simply just have no idea what you want to do?

I hear you!

After returning home from my second trip overseas, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I started the process of becoming a law enforcement officer, which I proudly served, for 5 years, part-time, while I finished getting my bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisville. During this time, I did what everyone else in this line of work does; contemplated if I wanted to wear shiny things on my collar. As a military brat, shiny collars were definitely a topic of discussion around my small group of family and friends both while growing up, and into my adulthood. I decided after serving for a time to put my law enforcement career and thoughts of becoming an officer to bed when I volunteered to go on my 3rd trip overseas to Landstuhl, Germany. There, I was tasked with supporting wounded, ill and injured Marines medevac’d (Medical Evacuation) from their respected area of operations. Some of those I supported were wounded while conducting combat operations, others came to the hospital for other reasons. Working hand in hand on the front line of receiving those medevacs forced me to realize how much it truly does take to be a part of something greater than yourself. Unfortunately, during my time stationed in Landstuhl I witnessed, first-hand, our nations heroes not being able to make it back home to their families. Those wounded heroes then led me to their families, waiting by their bedside, praying and hoping that their loved one would give them a sign that they were still fighting. I watched as many of these families went from being Blue Star Families (A family that has a member serving overseas) to becoming something that no family ever wants to be titled: A Gold Star Family (A family that has had a loved one sacrifice their life for our freedom).

After 15 months, my time had come and gone in Germany and I was headed home. I had gotten married, and my wife and I had our first child, a beautiful little girl. I no longer had the responsibility of just taking care of myself. It was time to figure out what I needed to do to provide the best life possible for my family. So, there I was, at a crossroad in my life, trying to figure out what I wanted to do. It was during this time that I decided I was going to go back to school to get my MBA and pursue a career in corporate America. I knew that I was not going to be happy settling for the ordinary and that I needed to push myself until I felt like I was truly reaching my full potential. I finished my MBA in 13 months, and I found myself completely over worked and burnt out. For over a year I had been working 0700-1600 and then going to school from 1700-2200 three nights a week and every other weekend. I honestly felt like I was back in Afghanistan sucking down energy drinks, chiefing cigarettes, and dipping a can or two a day. I hated it. Although I had a higher degree now, I wasn’t any closer to feeling higher up in my life. It wasn’t the answer to my problems like I was hoping it would be.

June 2019 I was approached by the Woody Williams Foundation. If you aren’t sure who Woody Williams is, I recommend you google search “Hershel Woody Williams- Iwo Jima.” It was through them that I finally figured it out. I Found My Cause. Stay tuned......

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Mar 31 at 2021 9:09 AM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 09:09:41 -0400

There will always be the suck in every profession. The suck takes many forms and it speaks many different languages, but the suck is still there. But also the joy is there, if you can connect with it. I have found that to be the case in any endeavor be it the job, the military, education, being a father; it's there and will always be. The grass is not greener if you think green means no suck. The trick to whatever you do, even a task you dislike, is to find a way to connect to it and make it something of value to what you want to ultimately accomplish. In that the suck is your bitch.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2021 3:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 15:24:37 -0400

It’s been my experience that depending on the person, their work experience, and their undergraduate and graduate degrees, it is possible to get your graduate degree to early; that is without gaining the work experience one needs to make good decisions as an executive. I’ve found it’s very important to embrace the suck, because we learn from the suck. MHO

Response by SPC EOTrees Myles made Mar 31 at 2021 8:02 PM

SPC EOTrees Myles — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 20:02:45 -0400

Listen when I was diagnosed as being incompetent, well I thought I can't do anything for myself or anyone else but this was a lie. I started writing poetry and this went very, very well, then I stared painting ceramics and this to went great. I've woken up from the dead and I'm waiting to receive another psychological examination because I'm back to living again. these two are my hobbies and these I do very well so well that I would love to start a small business and get my first manuscript published. I refuse to get stuck in anything that makes me unhappy.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 31 at 2021 8:48 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 20:48:47 -0400

Life can be ironic. I graduated with an Accounting and Finance degrees. I was offered accounting positions but thought becoming a bean counter would be a slow death. So I joined the army knowing full well that my career would be diverse. Everything went well. I went into the 160th, Tanks, National Disaster, then the army in its infinite wisdom made me a damn Budget Officer.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Apr 13 at 2021 1:23 PM

SSG Byron Hewett — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:23:50 -0400

If anyone would like a job in Law enforcement:
Idaho Department of Corrections is hiring
http://www.DHR.idaho.gov
register with the DHR web site
look under corrections