Work Ethic. Unique to the Military or Just not as Common?

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 22:37:04 -0400

After retiring from an Air Force career, I now work as an Emergency Medical Technician for a local EMS service. Part of my job is to clean and restock the ambulance after each medical response and at the end of each shift.

I was accomplishing said requirements a few days ago when the duty supervisor approached me. His comment was something to the effect of, "I can tell you are former military. You're squared away. You always take care of your business and I never have to check to make sure you've taken care of the ambulance. Wish a few others had your work ethic."

I don't see that I'm doing anything "extra" or "above and beyond". Does the military (in general) instill a deeper work ethic? Is it more that today's younger generations as a whole just aren't as motivated to take care of issues without being constantly monitored?

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 10:41 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 22:41:02 -0400

Attention to detail as an elite level skill is not necessary something people develop without being forced to (through training) or possibly OCD type behaviors. I daresay people screwed that kind of stuff up for decades throughout many generations. Though earlier generations had a much much higher % of people with military experience and consequences to failing at it. That kind of thing may have just rubbed itself into the older generations due to that.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 3 at 2015 12:04 AM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 00:04:11 -0400

Civilians do not have the .... anything we learned in uniform. I am amazed that some civilians that I have met can organize, conduct and complete the paperwork associated with a Class I download and the completion of Latrine Operations. ( I am amazed that they can even wipe their own behinds after taking a dump)

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 3 at 2015 4:45 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 04:45:27 -0400

Perspective is Everything. When I was in, Lets see I carried a "Get Out of Jail Free Card" (Defense Intelligence Agency Courier Card) and if anything I was carrying turned up missing $10K and 10 years in Jail. Fall asleep (We Know What Happens). Now that I'm retired, what is the worst my current employer can do to me? Fire Me! Big Frigging Deal. Now having lived and grown in the Military I am always on site 30 mins before I need to be and try my best but I can see the world through those that have not eyes too.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jun 3 at 2015 4:51 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 04:51:08 -0400

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P Yes, there is truth to what you are telling but be careful, others will form animosity for it while others will appreciate like your supervisor. Sometimes good work ethics can be found with service members and vets alike and sometimes you will find ones who just don't care and they show laziness. If you want to advance, I will say continue to do a good job.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 3 at 2015 6:51 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 06:51:22 -0400

Work ethic is learned when you are young (first jobs). The military forces a solid work ethic because the standard is set very high.

That said, there are some philosophical differences as well. Speaking only generally, we are "Mission Oriented" whereas a civilian counterpart is "Task Oriented." Looking at the long range effects changes things dramatically, and little things like attention to detail are huge. We don't have to strive for a "pass" per task.

Think about it like taking a course. We go in knowing we need to pass the entire class, so we do as well as we can on every single assignment, that way if we do struggle, the class will still be a success. Many of our civilian counterparts however look at everything as an individual assignment, they only have to pass each one. It changes the attitude dramatically, and lowers the product over time.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 7:00 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 07:00:05 -0400

I think it is broader than just the military. My step dad had only an elementary school education.But, he had a great work ethic.

When times were really tough he left home and got a job digging ditch. On the first day he was approached by coworkers who told him to slow down. On the third day he lost his job because he just worked too hard.

That was years ago (about 60).

In another case we hired youth for summer employment. When they were at the worksite the regulars told them to stand watch for management while the regulars went to a back room and goofed off.

Neither situation wold be remotely okay with me. And I worked just as hard in and out of the military.

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made Jun 3 at 2015 7:12 AM

PO2 Skip Kirkwood — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 07:12:22 -0400

MSG Holt, I am the Director of EMS in a good sized county in North Carolina. I can tell, very easily, who among my staff has served and who did not. Our people work relatively unsupervised - they are spread around 300 miles in teams of two. The veterans in the group mostly former infantry soldiers (Army/Marines) or medics/corpsmen, show up and do the work without having to be told. Someplace along the line, they learned (a) responsibility for themselves and their equipment, and (b) that there are consequences for NOT doing the job.

I wish I could find and hire two dozen more!