What are three skills you learned in the military that you feel have better prepared you for civilian work?

2016-02-20T12:22:08-05:00

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 20 at 2016 12:57 PM

2016-02-20T12:57:25-05:00

Perspective - most of office FLAILEXs are meaningless in the larger scheme of things. When the dust settles, people wonder why you're much further along.

Persistance - MILs don't give up easy and blame someone else, even if it is someone else. They correct and move forward.

Respect - MILs understand "service" and it's about taking care of their people.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2016 12:58 PM

2016-02-20T12:58:02-05:00

Versatility - I'm a good generalist (IT, logistics, HAZMAT, HR, etc) that knows where to look if I know nothing about it.
Pro-activity - Seniors don't always want to heed the SME's advice. I've learned to anticipate it and know when and how to lessen the expected Charlie Foxtrot or ignore the directive all together.
Innovation/Creativity and Communication - I'm not good at. I AM good at asking questions and knowing when my ideas are making people uncomfortable because they can't/won't/don't understand or try to. It's pathetic how many times I've seen my idea pushed away only for everyone to later come to it and try to at like it's a great new idea. "No, people, I suggested this on X day, and I've been doing it since then on my own."

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2016 1:04 PM

2016-02-20T13:04:44-05:00

I fine tuned my leadership and mentoring skills and how to develop theses skills in others. I developed my communication skills which came in handy during my civilian career. I have always been a planner, and the military made me a very focused on the details planner.

Response by SPC Alan Graham made Feb 20 at 2016 2:32 PM

2016-02-20T14:32:35-05:00

Discipline and patience

Response by SPC Alan Graham made Feb 20 at 2016 2:34 PM

2016-02-20T14:34:38-05:00

Courage, Patience, & Displine! Sorry it wouldn't let me delete or edit my last comment

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 20 at 2016 3:13 PM

2016-02-20T15:13:39-05:00

Planning, coordinating, and executing.

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Feb 20 at 2016 4:04 PM

2016-02-20T16:04:33-05:00

Discipline and perseverance

Response by PO3 David Fries made Feb 20 at 2016 4:53 PM

2016-02-20T16:53:17-05:00

Attention to detail - the ability to see the details as well as the bigger picture.
Punctuality - I am still at least 15 minutes early to everything.
Adapt and overcome - when something doesn't work, the ability to change gears and do something different.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Feb 20 at 2016 8:50 PM

2016-02-20T20:50:28-05:00

1. Knowing how to take care of people. When I left active duty in 1996, I started working as a manager for Hertz Corporation at O'Hare Int'l Airport. Because I knew how to take care of Soldiers, I took that with me into that position and was promoted 7 months later over more senior managers.
2. Mission accomplishment. Work at the airport was 365/24/7. Weather would delay flights and other managers would not want to stay around. For me, it was second nature to work until the nature of the job allowed me to go home.
3. Project management and problem solving.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2016 4:23 PM

2016-02-21T16:23:52-05:00

1. Fecal matter is gonna happen - be able to work/move around it and still get the job done without complaining and stopping work.

2. FACE TIME - e-mails are great for paper-trails, but nothing beats actually putting a face to a name. The number of people that don't actually KNOW the name of the person working next to them in civilian employment just boggles my mind!!

3. Life and death -vs- business as usual - If nobody is going to die or be perma-injured, then it can probably wait.

And one more for good measure!

4. PEOPLE MATTER - Who are you? What are your goals and motivations? Who gives a rat's ass about you? If your peers, subordinates, AND SUPERIORS answer, "You," to those questions, you've done your job right. They'll always go the extra mile for you because you care and they feel they matter.

Response by LCpl Daniel Schmidt made Mar 3 at 2016 8:18 PM

2016-03-03T20:18:55-05:00

My personal 3 as a crabber/fisherman in Alaska post Corps
Endurance- The ability to dig deeper than the rest , to be able to lead the charge thru hell again, when others are seasoned, yet can barely make it, they look up and wonder, how does he do it, ... The Marine Corps son.
Tolerance- The ability to take shit from any boss
Work Ethic- The drive to get it done,
all things gained through blood, sweat , and tears thru the ole Ghost of Chesty