Who are you without your rank before your name?

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR Just an indivudual man no better than anyones else in this world, a Father, a husband, and a son who honors his Mother, Father, and God on a daily basis!

My name is Joshua...Above all, I am a Christian. God's blessed me to be husband to the finest woman He put on this earth, and father to a son whose already promising to be smarter and stronger than I was. I've been a sailor, boxer, swordsman, and a warrior poet-Sometimes, I have to make money. My heart's in the Highlands...but my blood goes back to Gettysburg and Valley Forge. I believe in the "hard sell", and the "long trail". I believe there is definitive "right" and "wrong"...occasionally, I do both. I try to respect everyone, while fearing no one. I'm not "smart", but I think those I serve would call me reliable. I'm not "wise", but I think those that depend on me would call me resourceful. I'm not perfect, but I hope my Lord sees that I try to be.

My rank never made me who I was/am. The only thing that did was the title Doc.

Civilian. Veteran. Engineer. Husband. Brother. Uncle. Grandfather.

And according to at least one detractor here on RP, a PFC Officer.

This is probably one of the most difficult question to have to answer. Because in the military with were pvt....SFC...PO1...LDCDR....SGM....MSG....CW2...COL. Everyone in the uniform that served know your level of responsibility and scope of work. However you try to explain to non-military they dont get it and wont get it. So I had to find a way to seperate my rank and package what I did scope of responsibility and how I can add value to the organization. It was unfair for me to expect the hiring officials to automatically snap to parade rest or the position of attention like those that have served with me do in accordance with custom and courtesies of wearing the uniform. We I grab hold to that piece of information and knew who Dylan Raymond was, is and can contribute in the absence of Chief Warrant Officer 3....it was magical and things began to happen.

It was not easy and it took work but no one could take away the rank that I earned. I educated my civilian counterparts over time so they could appreciate what I bring to the organization. I had to remember you cant eat an elephant with one bite. But you could one bite at a time.

So for me removing the rank in my conversation, transition, interviews I found it helped in the transition and I begin to learn who Dylan Raymond was and what I can contribute to changing the world/space that I work in.

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR I am the same person, with or without the rank designation before my name. I am a son, husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, brother, son-in-law, uncle, cousin, executive, neighbor, friend, Christian, Republican, patriot, and a great many other things. My rank never defined me as a person. It simply designated a position in my chosen profession.

An everyday guy who loves his family and loves to be outdoors, coaching, fishing and hunting.

CTT2 Katie Wayman; I am a daughter, a mother, a citizen, a wife, a friend, a shipmate, a sister, an aunt; a supporter, an intelligence, a soul, a voice, a life.

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR, I'm just plain old TJ Hayes, faithful and loving husband, compassionate and involved father, steadfast and empathetic brother and successful and well raised son.

I think we all face this tough question as transitioning service members. The hope is, that we grew a career in the military where we led regardless of the rank on our shoulders. The best leaders I know were informally appointed and succeeded because they genuinely cared about the mission and their people. Great topic CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR