Do you walk among Giants?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 11:36:52 -0500

I've always been comfortable in my skin, but even more-so as I age. Some people are really uncomfortable working along side of higher ranking individuals, or even bosses in their civilian jobs. Do you get uncomfortable when someone that is much more important is working beside you? I've just accepted that I am just a cog on the wheel and we all are needed to make the wheel go 'round.

So, my question, are you comfortable working among Giants in your industry?
Or are you someone that prefers to work with their peers?

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Feb 10 at 2015 11:39 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 11:39:51 -0500

The best advice I have ever received while considering joining the Army was from my Uncle and mentor, COL Thomas A. Austin II, that "all men put theirs pants on one leg at a time". We are all human and relationships and working next to each other is what it is about. Toxic leaders are where the uncomfortable come in, but frankly no one should be scared of a giant.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 11:41 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 11:41:50 -0500

At first it makes me a little uncomfortable SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member, but after a while, I really start to enjoy it! You can learn a lot from a good leader who has been there, done that, and willingly shares their wisdom with the young guys. I work with about half a dozen retired Sergeant Majors. Many of which are SF, Rangers, etc. Lots of knowledge there if you ask! Just my thoughts.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 11:44 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 11:44:13 -0500

Heck yeah I do, I'm a fricking unicorn! They should bask in my awesomeness! LOL

In all seriousness, they put their pants on the same as I and are human. Why be afraid?

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 11:48 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 11:48:25 -0500

As someone in a very specialized career/AFSC and a service based one at that, I work more with people above my pay grade (both military and civilian) than I work with my peers. It was scary at first but after awhile I got used to it. The important thing to me is to maintain the respect even though the fear goes away.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 10 at 2015 11:49 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 11:49:50 -0500

Yes, it makes no difference to me.. Or at least it did not while in.... have not had the same interpersonal and work related relations of coexistence in the civilian world.

Working on a project with a 2,3 star was no different than with a Major... (yes level of expectations is different, but not how you come to that or quality)
Briefing the JCS, the Army SergentMajor was not any more stressful than briefing the Bde CDR. My assumption is I will feel the same way if the day comes Im working next to a billion dollar company CEO.. Oh wait... I just did that (well 114 million net worth according to the quarterly report) and taught him, his partner, and their wives how to ride a motorcycles...yup, no big deal.. Do your job best you can for the dock worker and the CEO..

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 10 at 2015 12:12 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 12:12:58 -0500

When I was in, I was a "Staff PoG" my entire career. When I was a LCpl, my desk faced the BN XO (across the hall), so every time I looked up, I saw gold oak leafs. Everyday, up and down the halls, surrounded by "brass."

My second unit was Quantico. Quantico is a bizarre place. The average rank on base is Major. My buildings were on the opposite ends of the Marine Corps University. We had four Senior Mentors (Retired General Officers) on staff, and the number of O's outnumbers our E's 4 to 1.

After a while, you just forget. Major, Colonel, Captain just becomes their first name. Not to say proper courtesies aren't rendered, they are. It's just everyone is judged on what they do, and what they bring to the table role wise, and the you stop being skittish because someone just happens to have a bird on their collar. It really hard to impress with 2 stars when the CMC was here last week.

That bled into my civilian life. Eventually everyone becomes commonplace.

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Feb 10 at 2015 1:48 PM

MSgt Jim Wolverton — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:48:42 -0500

If you're doing what you're supposed to do, you should be GTG.

Response by SMSgt Gary Calhoun made Feb 18 at 2015 5:31 PM

SMSgt Gary Calhoun — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 17:31:09 -0500

I am comfortable working "among Giants" as well as working with peers (and subordinates for that matter). The leaders provided in most cases wisdom based on experience; they also taught me how to view things from a strategic or tactical perspective instead of viewing things from a narrow set of parameters. In most cases they were quite willing to share. Working with peers and subordinates gave me the opportunity to see the successes and failures up close. I was able to share my many mistakes with subordinates so hey didn't repeat them and they gave me their perspective; in some cases I was able to show the "why" to the "what" so objectives made more sense.

I had the benefit of being in the Army and Air Force as well as working closely with sailors and Marines ashore. Learning and understanding their unique cultures allowed me to be an arbiter between deployed organizations to meet diverse missions.

In the end, it was all about being a good cog in a big, cumbersome machine.

Leadership in the civilian world was a little different...goals were more self-serving and less organizational-based. Ego became more of a factor. MDMP thought processes were as foreign as Sanskrit or Bengali. Rank and file were focused on getting the job done and popping smoke. I suspect part of it was that there were maybe 2 dozen veterans in a company of 850 people and I was the only one with a current military affiliation.

Response by SGM Ron Crump made Feb 19 at 2015 8:52 AM

SGM Ron Crump — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 08:52:16 -0500

When I was just a young Private, I feared anyone of senior rank. In basic training and my first assignment I learned that speaking to the Battalion CSM or anyone from there could get you in trouble, even if he started it. Getting sent to Battalion HQ for anything was a fate worse than death. Slowly I came to realize that they were not to be feared, I had simply been dealing with a few a$$holes.

Having served as a First Sergeant in Division HQ for 4 years and then served as an Operations Sergeant Major, I became very comfortable working with the Senior Brass. In a HHC you normally have more people that are in the grade of Master Sergeant or Major and higher than Junior Officer/Enlisted. You just need to remember that they are people too, just honor and respect the customs and courtesies and the rest will take care of itself.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 2:44 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 14:44:33 -0400

I am 5'4"; everyone is a giant to me. Lol

I am incredibly comfortable among the heavy-lifters of the world. Even from an E-1, I respected rank without fearing it. I may get star-struck with the legends of our industry, but I never feel ill at ease. My Jersey moxie just takes over. Lol

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Mar 23 at 2015 3:17 PM

SSG Steven Borders — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 15:17:23 -0400

I sure am comfortable. I have no choice working where I do. I work with some high up people and have to provide the best support I can. I work closely with all Ranks and even high up their on the food chain civilians.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Mar 23 at 2015 3:31 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 15:31:45 -0400

If they out rank me they generally can not take me in a fight, and if they can take me in a fight then I usually out rank them. What is to fear?

I actually love to be around the giants in the industry, it is an opportunity to learn and to get exposure for myself to grow my abilities and knowledge. It is a great opportunity and one I hope to keep being afforded.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Mar 23 at 2015 3:49 PM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 15:49:59 -0400

I am as comfortable as they let me be. I have often worked very closely with senior enlisted, but very rarely with officers of any rank. I expect it would be about the same with an officer, though: it's really up to them. I am confident and comfortable in myself and my abilities as far as they go, but if someone with the rank to do so wants to spend most of their time affirming their own superiority to themselves then I won't enjoy that much.

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Mar 23 at 2015 6:32 PM

TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 18:32:41 -0400

I've always worked very hard to get along with them all. The great ones I learn from and pass along to the lesser ones. We must continuously learn and teach from one generation to the next.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jun 18 at 2015 4:22 PM

SrA Matthew Knight — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 16:22:10 -0400

My job now involves me briefing pilots in person from the occasional CWs on up to Colonels and will likely brief Generals from time to time. It's nerve-racking initially but myself and others have gotten used to it fairly quick.