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We have all been told little bits of advice from Senior NCOs or prior service vets...no I heard a lot was to never volunteer. Is this true across all the services? We're they right?
I had many awesome opportunities for schools and even short little deployments fall into my lap because of my tendency to raise my hand.
I guess for me, I'd rather volunteer and then be voluntold.
One particular scenario, in formation the Plt Sgt said raise your hands if you know how to type, so I raised my hand...this landed me six months in S1 until we got a replacement. However because I excelled in the position, I firmly believe I was chosen to go to two schools I would never have been able to go to; Airborne and Ranger...so NOT volunteering isn't always what's it's been made to be...or am I wrong. I figured this as well, my enlistment was a volunteer, I will try and get as much out of it as possible.
Do you as a leader want someone running a mission that doesn't want to be there, or would you rather have a few gung-ho team players getting the job done?
Anyone else have a similar volunteer 'positive' experience.
The lesson thst I learned from this as a leader, when you ask for a volunteer, make sure it isn't always a punishment -- reward your troops for volunteering.
I had many awesome opportunities for schools and even short little deployments fall into my lap because of my tendency to raise my hand.
I guess for me, I'd rather volunteer and then be voluntold.
One particular scenario, in formation the Plt Sgt said raise your hands if you know how to type, so I raised my hand...this landed me six months in S1 until we got a replacement. However because I excelled in the position, I firmly believe I was chosen to go to two schools I would never have been able to go to; Airborne and Ranger...so NOT volunteering isn't always what's it's been made to be...or am I wrong. I figured this as well, my enlistment was a volunteer, I will try and get as much out of it as possible.
Do you as a leader want someone running a mission that doesn't want to be there, or would you rather have a few gung-ho team players getting the job done?
Anyone else have a similar volunteer 'positive' experience.
The lesson thst I learned from this as a leader, when you ask for a volunteer, make sure it isn't always a punishment -- reward your troops for volunteering.
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 14
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I think the "Never volunteer for anything" mentality is a left over from the draft days where soldiers, were trying to do as little as possible, finish their tour, and get home. If you were a draftee and this wasn't you, please accept my apologies.
As for me, I've volunteered for everything. In fact, I usually have tried to predict what needed to be done and do it without ever having to volunteer. During OSUT, on at least on occasion, I had a DS yell down the hall, "I need volunteers, anybody but Brainard!" It has certainly paid off. I got promoted to SGT with aprox. 3 years time in service.
As for me, I've volunteered for everything. In fact, I usually have tried to predict what needed to be done and do it without ever having to volunteer. During OSUT, on at least on occasion, I had a DS yell down the hall, "I need volunteers, anybody but Brainard!" It has certainly paid off. I got promoted to SGT with aprox. 3 years time in service.
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LTC Stephen C.
SSgt (Join to see) / SSG(P) (Join to see), even in the days of the draft, there had to be volunteers! Draftees weren't allowed to be in Special Forces. We were told by the SFTG instructors at Fort Bragg (1970 timeframe) that we were triple volunteers! You had to volunteer (enlist) for the Army, volunteer for jump school and volunteer for SF training!
Also, when the wet bulb (heat index) reached a certain level, all physical training on post was suspended. However, the SF instructors would always ask/tell us, "Don't you want to volunteer to continue training?!" Who would say no?!
1LT L S
Also, when the wet bulb (heat index) reached a certain level, all physical training on post was suspended. However, the SF instructors would always ask/tell us, "Don't you want to volunteer to continue training?!" Who would say no?!
1LT L S
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In my short experience I learned that volunteering when my section leader yelled " I need X number of Marines!" would build me a reputation for getting things done and he would also tell me to get my hand down and that I volunteer enough and voluntell others.
Also, before I left for boot camp I would hear the "Don't volunteer for anything!" from people that have never served... hmmm... glad I made my own decisions.
Also, by the time I was a Corporal and had other Marines under me, I DID want to train those that wanted to learn. Granted I am an NCO and tried to train all the Marines I could with the Satcomm stuff, one or two stood out that really wanted to learn so I tried to transfer all of my knowledge to them before I EAS'd
Also, before I left for boot camp I would hear the "Don't volunteer for anything!" from people that have never served... hmmm... glad I made my own decisions.
Also, by the time I was a Corporal and had other Marines under me, I DID want to train those that wanted to learn. Granted I am an NCO and tried to train all the Marines I could with the Satcomm stuff, one or two stood out that really wanted to learn so I tried to transfer all of my knowledge to them before I EAS'd
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
Sgt Martin V. I wish I had served with you, because that is a great leadership trait to have...to share your knowledge. That very fact made me realize that all of us are replaceable...you are never as important as you think you are...not you specifically but generally speaking.
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Another instance:
Company Commander said he needed about 10 volunteers, I didn't have anything planned, so I raised my hand...Come to find out some professional Football team had donated some 100 tickets to the Marines at the last minute. I got to take my (ex-wife, puke, gag, choke) and got off for the rest of the day...Couldn't believe it. Some times it pays to be a winner.
Company Commander said he needed about 10 volunteers, I didn't have anything planned, so I raised my hand...Come to find out some professional Football team had donated some 100 tickets to the Marines at the last minute. I got to take my (ex-wife, puke, gag, choke) and got off for the rest of the day...Couldn't believe it. Some times it pays to be a winner.
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I guess I don't understand the reasoning behind not volunteering for anything. In my experience, volunteering to do the "hard" jobs that nobody else wants to do pays off every time. You can either sit around and complain about something, or you can do something to fix it, no matter what it is.
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SSG(P) (Join to see), I won't retype the whole post, but if you take a look at the 7-in-7 thread that's trending right now, you can see exactly why I'm with you l. Volunteer whenever you can. More often than not, it will lead to good things.
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I volunteered for everything. Even though my cousin who was already in told me not to. I believe because of this I gained more experience in more areas than my peer that chose not to volunteer. I was recognized for this and then asked to do things others were not. That's just the person I am n
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We had a few nuggets of wisdom along this thread when I was in the Navy...
First and foremost was to remember that Navy stood for "Never Again Volunteer Yourself" (a point driven home to me being a Submarine "volunteer" in boot camp and not wanting to do Submarines after I washed out of Nuclear Power School and not being given the choice, even if it did work out well).
The next precious kernel was "If you do something well, chances are you'll get stuck doing it." This was followed closely by "Anything worth doing is worth doing half-assed."
All of these example are, of course, tongue in cheek...
First and foremost was to remember that Navy stood for "Never Again Volunteer Yourself" (a point driven home to me being a Submarine "volunteer" in boot camp and not wanting to do Submarines after I washed out of Nuclear Power School and not being given the choice, even if it did work out well).
The next precious kernel was "If you do something well, chances are you'll get stuck doing it." This was followed closely by "Anything worth doing is worth doing half-assed."
All of these example are, of course, tongue in cheek...
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That is the stupidest advice every given. Paying forward ensures humility and perspective. Even sadder when human rights are denied veterans and a closed mind towards drug users and various types of offenders. Compassion is not something one can overlook and by the Grace of God go we.
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I never open my mouth about this issue at work. But it shouldn't matter what the task is or whos asking. When something needs to get done just get it done. My military career is still young. However, I did have a life before the Army and in my experience the more initiative you show and the faster you work as a team, especially when there's a bs task at hand the quicker you can go home to the family.
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And yet another instance:
We were short Marines to go to Somalia, so they asked for a couple of volunteers from all the sections. I proceeded to volunteer with my (still best friend) and guess what?....we were tasked to fill a C-130 with equipment and vehicles for delivery to Somalia...two of us were the only ones on the plane, besides the crew...and it took a long time to get there.
There are two things Marines love...CHOW....and SLEEP. I got sick in Somalia and thought I was going to die, but we were there around the time Black Hawk Down took place. It was a good experience...however, I had some explaining to do. We were having a good-bye party at our apartment off base, and another one of our co-workers spoke out loud to my then spouse, that he wished he had volunteered like we did...I had told my then wife that we were tasked to go to Somalia...it wasn't a total lie.
We were short Marines to go to Somalia, so they asked for a couple of volunteers from all the sections. I proceeded to volunteer with my (still best friend) and guess what?....we were tasked to fill a C-130 with equipment and vehicles for delivery to Somalia...two of us were the only ones on the plane, besides the crew...and it took a long time to get there.
There are two things Marines love...CHOW....and SLEEP. I got sick in Somalia and thought I was going to die, but we were there around the time Black Hawk Down took place. It was a good experience...however, I had some explaining to do. We were having a good-bye party at our apartment off base, and another one of our co-workers spoke out loud to my then spouse, that he wished he had volunteered like we did...I had told my then wife that we were tasked to go to Somalia...it wasn't a total lie.
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SGT (Join to see)
Interesting story of then I was in the Marine Corps... I had been having a rough patch with the recruiting duty I had been on. One day, I was told I was to go to Ft Douglas and meet up with the reserve unit there. I had been voluntold to work with Toys for Tots... Just so happens, they needed another Marine to join for the flag detail at the minor league hockey game... I had my full dress blues and serendipitously ready. I participated with the flag detail at the hockey game, got free tickets to watch the game and enjoyed myself... It was awesome!!! By the way I loved working the Toys for Tots program too... I will never forget my time working the detail...
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