What's the WORST career advice you have gotten or heard someone else get? It happens...

Wanted to become an Officer and was told by my Platoon Sgt. at first Duty Station when I went Active Duty in 1981 from the National guards. He told me point blank, you don't want to become an Officer and insult your Intelligence. Still think to this day I would have made an outstanding Officer in the Military. Also while serving in the Army Reserves as an E-8. Was getting very close to Retiring and thought long and hard about continuing my stay in the Military and Transfer / Enlist in the Air Guard just to try a Different Branch of the Military. Since I was still young enough to serve and Train Soldiers. Contacted the Air Guard Retention / Recruiting Officer and asked what I would have to do to transfer / Enlist. Told them I was an E-8 and had a Supply/ Logistics MOS. I was informed that if I wanted to Transfer I would have to be demoted all the way down to an E-5 in order to get into the Air Guard. I declined the offer to change Branches in a heartbeat. No way was I going to go from and E-8 down to an E-5 just to see how another Branch of the Service would work for my Career. So I stayed in the Army Reserves and retired in Oct. 1999. Had already had to drop a grade in rank when I went from the National Guards from an E-3 to an E-2 in order to go Active Duty. Wasn't about to Drop in rank again in my Career.

I think the worst career advice is to not ask for help or try to always be the example. You can't always be the perfect soldier and will have to rely on other people's input.

"Never volunteer for anything." Bull. How are you supposed to get ahead of your peers if you don't? I say volunteer for everything. The guy who gave me the advice? Former SGT from the 1st Cav Div, circa 1969. My dad. I had to tell him that things had changed in the Army since Vietnam! LOL

High school guidance counselor ... "Computers are going to be such a flooded field when you get out of college, you'll never be able to get a job". Initially listened, but glad his advice didn't stick.

"Be an Army Officer"

I wanted to enlist while in college, get a few years, get that e if I did eventually commission. And in my time in service I have found out that I would prefer to be a Warrant.

Just doing what Dad did (and therefore his only real experience in the Army)

Worse Advice: Use NCI transcripts for promotion points as opposed to actually going to school.

Mechanics can't be airborne. What, are you gonna jump out of a plane with your toolbox?

Do not go to school for an education but just to get promotion points !

I was told as a young private when I meet one of my first Squad Leaders (SSG BALL), I was riding in his truck to get my DCU issue for OIF II. On the way there I noticed that he had no combat patch but did have an Air Assault Badge. Me the young 18 year old private asked then SSG Ball how long he had been in the Army? SSG Ball responded with "almost 19 years".. I without thinking opened my big mouth and said "gosh 19 years and your only a Staff Sergeant and still a Squad Leader?". His first response was WTH do you mean by that? Then his advice/explanation to me was that " he never kissed A$$ and if you wanted to make rank that was the only way to do it.

I was blessed to make this years SFC promotion List at 10 years in service. If you were to ask anyone who knows me I am far from the arse kisser. SSG Ball taught me a lot that day in that I did not want to be a Squad Leader like him and a Staff Sergeant at 19 years in service.