America Needs the Secret Leadership of the U.S. Military, an Essay by Colonel Miguel Howe via The...

Unfortunately, while well intentioned, I think this essay misses the mark. The author does a great job in the first part of the piece describing the tremendous experience junior military leaders have and the skills they bring to the civilian world. But then, for his example, he uses a veteran that went to school, and became an accountant. But then he states that after overcoming PTSD issues he decided he didn't want to be an accountant, and went on to start his own successful company.

So that seems lime a great success story, and in one way it is. Veterans can channel their leadership and initiative into building their own businesses. But what does this essay look like to a civilian employer considering hiring a veteran? The veteran in this essay accepted a job offer, had to deal with PTSD issues while employed, and then quit. Not exactly the ringing example of why businesses should take a chance and hire veterans. In fact, it seems to reinforce the worst stereotypes. This veteran had PTSD issues to overcome. This veteran was bored with an office job and quit. This veteran didn't actualy find sucess until he started his own business, where he sets the rules rather than follows them. And it was an outdoor business, construction, rather than an office job.

So IMO, the author started out with a great premise, but then shot our veterans in the foot, so to speak, with his example.

Cpl David Smith
Good article, somethings spot on...some on target...some near misses...wishful thinking. The military is NOT a true meritocracy, it should be, but it is not. There is way to much political pressure at every level for it to be merit driven...but it still probably better than the civilian World?