Change is good... Don't you think?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 21:13:09 -0400

Have you ever directly influenced a change in your CMF? If you had the opprtunity to voice an idea how a task could be streamlined or made more efficent, did you? What did you do?

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Jun 9 at 2015 9:16 PM

CPO Joseph Grant — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 21:16:04 -0400

I assume all service members do this, at least we do in the Submarine Force. Anyone who doesn't isn't truly doing his job.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 9:50 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 21:50:46 -0400

I keep trying. I get dismissed a lot because of rank. I can effect my unit, but not my CMF as a whole.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 9:59 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 21:59:12 -0400

I have had the power to influence and actually leave my legacy. While I was in Germany I impacted all of USAEUR by implementing an event that was never done before. The idea was to provide awareness to the teen demographic. Luckily for me I have a very supportive Commander who gave me free reign to do as I must to implement my vision. I started something called a "Teen Fair." This fair was like an indoor circus for teens. There was education from knowing your blood pressure, STI's, dangers of drinking and driving, how to talk to you children about sex, to what is in sports and energy drinks.

Long story short, I received an Honorary Award from the Principal at the High School and this was history in the making. So every medical person behind me had to make this fair better and better.

Off my soap box

JW

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 10:26 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 22:26:27 -0400

I voted on none of these except to say that all change is not good. I am just wondering what this change may entail? Could it include wiping out the constitution, rewriting SOPs how about quotas. Demographics over competence? Today's body armour and go back to medieval protection. Maybe limiting the length of a knife or using rubber bullets. You see, 'change' as a slogan is utterly without meaningful content. It is divisive and it is patently wrong. 'Change for change sake'.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 7:40 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 07:40:00 -0400

I think change is paramount. Military? Without changing?? Total paradox, keep the ideas coming!!

Prior to presenting your ideas, it's IMPERATIVE to study your people. Know who reacts how to whose ideas, how to PRESENT your idea in order for it to have maximum impact, and how to re-strategize should your ideas either be rejected or put on the rocks for 'later', which is essentially 'never'.

Definitely got to play office politics. As much as most of us dread it, it's still a necessary evil. Or, in the words of my old Chief, got to present an idea that's full of s#!t in a form of a golden nugget.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 8:17 AM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 08:17:52 -0400

I'm Navy, so I'm not really sure what a CMF is, but I do think change is good as long as it isn't just for the sake of changing. Change is good if it is positive or corrects a wrong.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jun 10 at 2015 8:20 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 08:20:49 -0400

Change is change, some is good, some bad, some disastrous. Companies, over the decades, have brought forth changes that have had great impact and put some out of business. I've experienced both good change and bad change.

The mantra is "change is good". Without first getting everyone to buy into that or you would never get any change implemented. Everyone thinks their ideas are good or they wouldn't put them forth. All ideas are not created equally either.

Discernment is a key skill that must be coupled with change in order to ensure we don't change, for change sake and then realize the ball has not been advanced or we might have actually lost ground.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 8:21 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 08:21:27 -0400

Challenged MOS test scores when data was not in the Soldier's Manual as required. Challenged the 1,000 pt system for soldiers who exceeded 1,000 pts yet were not promoted! Got that fixed. Suggested changes to regulations based on experiences in the field--to the point of being added to the doctrine teams.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jun 10 at 2015 8:23 AM

SFC Stephen King — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 08:23:21 -0400

When looking at change I believe we all can contribute. Don't let the rank on your collar or chest define you. The main thing is to remember tact. If you have a better solution to a problem be cognitive of your audience and delivery. There are different types of change to consider progressive and radical.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Jun 10 at 2015 1:01 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 13:01:54 -0400

The good idea fairy needs to be taken out back and shot.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 10 at 2015 1:30 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 13:30:23 -0400

It suddenly occurred to me that change must be managed. Let's use DTS as an example. It was fielded with very little training and guidance. If you have the 95% solution, the 5% will kick your butt. If you know it by 100%, it is an efficient system that reimburses you in days.

My solution was to write a cheat sheet to use on DTS. It helped the users navigate DTS and reduced the phone calls to my two DTS administrators by 90%.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2015 2:49 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 14:49:31 -0400

Change for a reason is good. Change for the sake of change is stupid.