Do veterans lack social-emotional skills? A major study finds that many civilian employers...

I don't believe that it is so much lack of interpersonal skills so much other than our interpersonal skills are different. Having worked in civilian industry for a short period I found that most civilian companies view their positions as a job and not a personal calling. When you make it a personal calling you are passionate about getting the job (mission) done. That means being direct and to the point with co workers, subordinates, suppliers, and logistics personnel. Being direct in the military is what we understand and it gets things done...being direct in the civilian world means you are a bully and can't get along with anyone else when it could be nothing further from the truth. Military folks don't sit around the water cooler and jaw jack all day and then get a little bit of work done. We are focused on the mission at hand for that day and how it impacts the ultimate mission. Civilian companies are only concerned with the bottom line...if you get the minimum done and they still meet the bottom line you are good. That isn't good enough for us military folks we are just wired different. You want something done, tell us and we will find a way to get there. We won't trample on folks and stab folks in the back but we will be direct and on point until we reach what the task at hand requires and them we don't stip...we look for the next one. I don't think we lack emotional and social skills ours are just different.

Maj Marty Hogan Lt Col Charlie Brown 1stSgt Glenn Brackin
Cpl Craig Morton SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth COL Mikel J. Burroughs
LTC Stephen C. CPL Dave Hoover PO3 Bob McCord
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Sgt Wayne Wood PVT James Strait
SFC Jack Champion MSgt David Hoffman MSgt Stephen Council
SGT Elizabeth Scheck PO1 H Gene Lawrence TSgt Joe C. 1SG Steven Imerman Cpl Jeff N.

This could also have a lot to do with the notion that veterans are "broken" and may not fit in well in general etc. The veteran community is mostly responsible for that image of veterans. The non stop chatter about PTSD, veteran suicide and other issues could be scaring potential employers away. Also, hiring managers perceptions of veterans may be getting unduly influenced by this sort of image of veterans as "damaged goods".

Another reality is civilian employers out way too much emphasis on social-emotional skills in the hiring process. What they need is people that can produce solid results, that will show up at the appointed time, ready to work, hold the idle chatter and complaining to a minimum and essentially produce results for the company. HR organizations tend to be staffed with people that have degrees in softer skill areas. Many orgs put people that cannot do other things in HR as well. The hiring process is too often driven by HR who may over emphasize social emotional skills and not by the hiring manager who needs people that will produce better than average results.

1SG John Furr

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Good article,LTC,interacting socially is not my forte,better now than earlier in life,but still mostly unacceptable socially.No diplomacy most of the time.