Posted on Nov 8, 2013
What's the best advice you've ever gotten from someone in the military?
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The best advice I ever received was to "take a knee". I had just been through a divorce, was struggling through CGSC, couldn't get enough shared custody time with my kids, was overwhelmed at work and was trying to find time for my monthly drill (BA). The guy I worked for, a LTC at the time and I was a Major, suggested that I RST and work on my CGSC instead of attending drill for the next three months. I was blown away by his compassion and caring during a time when I was juggling way too many balls in the air. This breathing room, as a result of taking a knee, allowed me to complete CGSC, get my life back on track and demonstrate resilience through taking positive actions. I owe that LTC big time for some of the best advice I've ever received!
Army
NCOs
Officers
Mentorship
Advice
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 142
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
"There's only 1 thief in the Marine Corps, the rest of us are trying to get our s#$% back."
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As a young SGT I was pulled aside by my squad leader after making a correction on one of my Soldiers while deployed in 2004-2005. I guess I was a bit more stern and inconsiderate with my words than I thought I was. He told me "I've always raised my Soldiers the way I raised my kids". When I asked him to explain that he basically said he raised his children to be successful, disciplined, trustworthy, and hard workers. He used that same practice, albeit a few adjustments to compensate for the different environment, with his Soldiers and saw many of them gain success. That has stuck with me ever since and I took up that practice early on as an NCO. It has paid dividends long term. Soldiers I "raised" from 2005-2011 have sought me out or found me to say thanks when they've gained a level of success or been promoted. It's an exhilerating feeling and makes me proud and humble.
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MAJ Samuel Weber
Great advice. I had the same thing happen to me. I was a new Sergeant (2-3 months TIG) and a Private came to me with a suggestion. In a not-so-nice way I told him to "keep walking". My Section Sergeant (SFC) pulled me aside and said "You never know if that private's idea may have been a good one. It is always better to listen to people first, take the time to explain things (if time permits) and then move on." Changed my perspective....
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During Second Fallujah, I was talking with a Marine LtCol Battalion Commander outside a TOC during the ops pause. I saw in the distance a young Marine having what appeared to be a major hissy fit, and I teased the CO about how "I thought all Marines were more stoic than that". He just shrugged and said, "that Marine has had a bad day, which was the culmination of a bad week, which has been a part of a bad enlistment. He's had to learn the hard what that every Marine loves the Corps, but the Corps doesn't love every Marine. And that's true ultimately for every Marine".
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SSG (Join to see)
best advice- If you Drink- don't Drive. If you Drive Don't Drink, If you skin dive, wear a wet suit. Stay Away from Oceanside, and other Marines Wives! lol
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SMSgt Matthew Hoyer
I disagree to a point. The Air Force in the big picture loves you very much...right until you retire, then it gives not a single droplet of shit about you.
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SrA Eric Brokaw
I agree with that, Captain. I loved the Air Force but I never felt that love in return. I wasn't the best Airman but I was far from being a dirtbag. I kept my uniform sharp and did my job better than anyone else in the shop. But, for whatever reason, I felt like I was being made a mark. So when the time came, I got out. My First Shirt already told me that there was no way she'd let me reclass or PCS so my hands were tied. Either stay in and get kicked out, or get out.
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The best advice I ever received was to always admit when screwed up, admitting it and finding a solution to to it is part of being responsible. Don't allow those that you work for to take the blame I.e your troops when it was your decision in the first place. It will teach them that they do no not have to be responsible for their own actions. It just part of leading by example and mentoring those that you have for the time being so that when leadership comes their way they understand the responsibility that comes with it.
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SSgt (Join to see)
I completely agree, Sgt Helvie. Early in my career one of my NCOs told me to always own up to my mistakes and learn from them. As easy as it was for him to say, something that simple made a huge impression on me.
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SGT William B.
Sir,
Ha. A couple of my favorites to finish that:
"...give us gloves/cold weather gear when we can't wear it?"
"...sew pockets into pants and jackets if we can't put our hands in them?"
Ha. A couple of my favorites to finish that:
"...give us gloves/cold weather gear when we can't wear it?"
"...sew pockets into pants and jackets if we can't put our hands in them?"
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Lt Col (Join to see)
SGT William B. http://www.duffelblog.com/2014/12/soldiers-winter-gear-polartec/
To your point about cold weather gear.
To your point about cold weather gear.
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Outstanding question (and great advice there, thank you for sharing sir).
The best advice that I've put to use is "admit when you don't something - at the right time, to the right person." As a 2LT who enlisted as an 09S, there is a never ending list of things I don't know, and my greatest tool so far is figuring out who to ask, how to ask, and when to ask. I've seen plenty of other inexperienced 2LTs not gain the respect of their Soldiers, and remain ineffective leaders, because they keep going on not understanding things with a 'fake it 'til you make it' attitude. After Platoon Leader, my primary job is to learn, and developing relationships with experienced NCOs who go out of their way to help and educate me as been invaluable.
The best advice that I've put to use is "admit when you don't something - at the right time, to the right person." As a 2LT who enlisted as an 09S, there is a never ending list of things I don't know, and my greatest tool so far is figuring out who to ask, how to ask, and when to ask. I've seen plenty of other inexperienced 2LTs not gain the respect of their Soldiers, and remain ineffective leaders, because they keep going on not understanding things with a 'fake it 'til you make it' attitude. After Platoon Leader, my primary job is to learn, and developing relationships with experienced NCOs who go out of their way to help and educate me as been invaluable.
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CMC Robert Young
Ma'am, I had a similar experience as a newly minted E7. I was told that the answer was never "I don't know. The appropriate response is 'I'll find out.'" That made me better at my job because I had to learn something new, and help somebody in my sphere of influence at the same time. It went along way towards building my creditability with my superiors, peers, and subordinates.
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Suspended Profile
"Be at the right place, at the right time, in the right uniform all
while looking good and giving 100% for 100% of the time with an attitude deemed
necessary to complete the task"
When I got to my first unit in '99, Ft Drum, NY, as a PFC straight out of
AIT, my first line leader was previously an 82nd Airborne Soldier of the Year
that had passed a small yellow sticky to me that told me this is what you need
to Be, Know, and Do if you want to get promoted and be successful while here.
The first line above is pretty much the gist of what was on that sticky, but
here are the other target points that were right below that line:
DO: Military and Civilian Education ALWAYS
DO: max your APFT and weapons marksmanship
DO: as many correspondence courses as possible
DO: look good physically and mentally, first impressions are lasting
impressions in a competitive occupation
DO: learn everything about your job and your supervisors
Basically, I was told by him that it is human nature to be attracted to
attractive people. (I think he was very in to himself specifically on the
personal appearance but as a whole with his explanation he had a valid point,
considering his Fast Tracking his way through promotion.) In a job world that
has a very competitive promotion system this explanation was worth knowing.
This attraction he mentioned can be physical, educational (knowledge based) and
mentally/emotional (your attitude). Knowing this, if I strove to be successful
or at the least give the best that I could in these areas I would naturally
have more of a competitive edge. I worked my butt off as a young soldier in
schools, fitness, and while at work used initiative and made it a point to be a
part of every mission. Sadly, I couldn't fix ugly but I could fix an out of
shape appearance :-)
This I believe was the best advice I received from day 1
in the Army and has proved right ever since.
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SSG (Join to see)
"say what you mean and mean what you say" my old Battery Commander when I got to Germany in 2000...
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CW4 (Join to see)
MAJ Englund, <br><br>If I remember correctly you did that or at least the NCOs did that in Korea. <br><br>
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CMSgt (Join to see)
When I went through (Army) Basic, our Drill Sergeant used to rush into the Bay Area and shout, "who in here is good at Math??". Inevitably, a few proud young ladies would raise their hand. He would continue, "Good. Get your f*cking e-tool and follow me."
He would change up the subject matter and apparatus to bring but it never got old. Lol
He would change up the subject matter and apparatus to bring but it never got old. Lol
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CPT (Join to see)
One of the characters of Soldiers are those that step up and volunteer; as a commander it allows me to view who is driving (leaders) and who is riding (follower)
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You are as strong as your weakest soldier..
It has never left me. I think about it with my up and coming soldiers. The only measure of who you are is how you guide and watch the success of those around you.
Some once told me "I may trip, I may fall. I will not quit, I will crawl" i also remember this it motivates me to keep pushing.
It has never left me. I think about it with my up and coming soldiers. The only measure of who you are is how you guide and watch the success of those around you.
Some once told me "I may trip, I may fall. I will not quit, I will crawl" i also remember this it motivates me to keep pushing.
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SSG (Join to see)
Good advice given to you SGT Walker. And I like the quote you gave as well. It's a motivator for sure. Tells yourself and your Soldiers that you'll keep going until you just can't physically go anymore.
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