What's One Thing That Makes or Breaks a Military Career? Share and Be Entered to Win!

Toxic leadership, and how you react to it. I've seen that kind of leadership drain every last bit of morale from everyone who suffered under it. I've also seen that kind of leader get relieved for cause, so it cuts both ways.

Honor, truth, and upholding the very oath you took to the US Constitution without reservation, politics or bias. THIS is what makes or breaks a US Military career, regardless if you are just a E1 doing mundane things, a E5 with your first command of people or an officer leading many. Your honor and your oath are what will determine your career.

And today more than ever, I hope and pray most still active duty, remember what their oath means and they choose to stand by it and not allow a few in power to dictate or ignore the very thing we are sworn to uphold. Just because something is an order, does not make it right, legal, Constitutional. And if it is not legal, moral or Constitutional, your HONOR demands you take a stand.

Leadership. Everyone can't lead. Leading is about trust. If you don't have that, your people is just going through the motion because they have to. Good leadership turns into trust your people will have your back as you will have theirs.

One thing that can break your military career is how you carry yourself. You can have a High Level Security Clearance like a TS/SCI and have to be very careful when drinking among your buddies and don't spill details about your job and what you do! Also, you have to make your that you are always in good standing with your creditworthiness. A slight blemish can either determine to downgrade your security clearance, or a change in your MOS.

Attitude

Integrity of the service member and the command.

Discipline! During our military career we must be versed in rules and regulations in order keep ourselves disciplined as well as holding our peers and subordinates accountable.

Makes: a consistent leadership style focused on using your rank to support the success of your subordinates.
Breaks: the opposite of ^.

As a 2ndLt just graduated from flight training, my assignment was Pilot F4C pipeline southeast Asia. I was paired with a Captain as my Aircraft Commander. I was soon due for my first OER and the Captain as my Commander had to wright it. This was first OER and he had known me for 2 months and he gave me a 9-7. Said it was a favor as it gave me "room to grow". Later, with a glut of Captains and few Major slots, a 7 rating in your file was a "kiss of death" and with "up or out' in force, I was out.

Lack of Motivation!