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

Your ability to handle command.

Integrity.

Great leadership

Adaptability. Every field event, PCS, promotion, etc makes vulnerability a huge challenge. I know because I fell for this when I landed in a horrible unit at a dream post and was promptly presented with "you gotta get down to get around" mentality. I chose to reject the sexual advances of my chain of command and they chose to show me the boot. A very long and strong boot that reached the top of the food chain. I had no chance of survival. If I had support, I would be a champion for the MST issue.

Marriage.

Leaders. I once had a commander tell me that a General told him to focus on family first, then the military. Because when the military is gone, you want your family to still be there. Then when I told him I couldn't stay late on a whim one night because my childcare wasn't available (it was my MIL), his response was, "Well, I guess you chose family over military... you'll be lucky to retire at Major." One choice changed how he treated me for the next year. Joke was on him - I had amazing leaders after that... but it was too late. My choice was made. When my husband had a promotion opportunity that would require me to separate, I took my sign and it was the best decision I've ever made. Sadly this means that the poor leaders end up making rank while the legit talent and people we NEED in the military get out because they can do better. The double-faced "take care of your people" rhetoric is killing our military. A lot of times as a leader, I had to pull Airmen aside to help them with personal choices that were great for them but were not so great for the military. Sadly, because of that, we lost a bunch of great Airmen because the military was slowly killing peoples' families and dreams.

Leaders. I once had a commander tell me that a General told him to focus on family first, then the military. Because when the military is gone, you want your family to still be there. Then when I told him I couldn't stay late on a whim one night because my childcare wasn't available (it was my MIL), his response was, "Well, I guess you chose family over military... you'll be lucky to retire at Major." One choice changed how he treated me for the next year. Joke was on him - I had amazing leaders after that... but it was too late. My choice was made. When my husband had a promotion opportunity that would require me to separate, I took my sign and it was the best decision I've ever made. Sadly this means that the poor leaders end up making rank while the legit talent and people we NEED in the military get out because they can do better. The double-faced "take care of your people" rhetoric is killing our military. A lot of times as a leader, I had to pull Airmen aside to help them with personal choices that were great for them but were not so great for the military. Sadly, because of that, we lost a bunch of great Airmen because the military was slowly killing peoples' families and dreams.

Sexual assault did it for me. At 17, after graduating early from H.S, I enlisted in the Navy (1969). While studying sonar and volunteering for sub service I was sexually assaulted while I was sleeping. I thought I would be murdered. Luckily I survived but immediately started the process to exit the military. I was given a General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions six months later. I really loved the Navy, my father was career Navy. That definitely broke what I was hoping to be a Military career.

too much deployment

Maj June Shaffer - Not being a white man or a "girly woman"! As an assertive Asian American I didn't fit the stereotype. But living long and being retired is the best antidote.