How do you stay motivated in a thankless job?

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 May 2017 00:55:01 -0400

I've got a few big decisions to make over the next two years about whether or not to stay in/cross train/switch branches, etc. I think the hardest part about operations support jobs is that you rarely get to see the end product of your meticulous labor. To those who've made a career out of the military, what was your motivation to stick with it?

Response by TSgt David L. made May 1 at 2017 2:18 AM

TSgt David L. — Mon, 01 May 2017 02:18:45 -0400

First, you have to like what you do. Which service won't matter. If you need to cross train shop around first. Have your First Sergeant make arrangements to visit some shops you might be interested in. Try one on for a day and pick their brains. Don't jump unless you know what you're in for or what you want.
Good luck with your decision.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2017 3:26 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 May 2017 03:26:47 -0400

I'm not a lifer but the unit & the people you serve with can also make or break your experience. To simply say your job is thankless is a bit narrow minded, your rank & responsibilities play a huge factor in what you can or cannot do. Unless you're in a real shitty MOS. You're at the bottom of the ladder, a Senior Airman, a junior enlisted E4 that does all the chores. Have you inquired with your chain of command to see if you can take on more responsibilities? As a former grunt and engineer I rarely saw the operational side of things, only the execution phase. Since you're in op support you see the big picture and how the pieces fit together. From my perspective all I saw was the end result and wonder why are we doing this? who the hell came up this dumb joint operational crap? As TSgt LaPointe mentioned ask your chain of command for support and guidance. That is the role of a NCO!

Many people have come before you and have felt their job is thankless or meaningless. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. I left the military to join the civilian workforce because I was tired of being in the execution phase, I wanted to see what happened behind the curtain. Don't jump out the plane just because of a little turbulence, turn off autopilot and get on the stick. Keep your eyes on the horizon and don't base your decisions of a bad experience. As a rule of thumb you should never make decisions when you're low or high. Sometimes you just need to embrace the suck and ruck 20 miles in full battle rattle with 80lbs on your back to find yourself. Also, the heat rashes, bruises from the ruck frame, pain in your neck, shoulders legs & lower back and blisters you get afterwards suck too.

Besides the Air Force isn't supposed to be an adventure, you're supposed to Aim Him!

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made May 1 at 2017 4:44 AM

TSgt Melissa Post — Mon, 01 May 2017 04:44:54 -0400

I recently cross trained from munitions maintenance to Command post (command and control). I completely understand what it feels like to be unmotivated and in a thankless job or at a least a job that the thanks feels sarcastic, and never seeing the end result of your work. My advice to you would be to first determine if you want to stay in or get out of the Military. Do you not like your job or do you not like the military? If the first, find what you like to do and then try to cross train into it. If the latter, find what you want to do outside of the military and work toward preparing for that if you are not ready already.

Like the individuals wrote below, it really does help when you have a team of people that you really enjoy working with. I know from personal experience how that can really change your outlook on your job and life. Does this mean that I don't notice things in my new job that could be better? Of course not. But they pale in comparison to what I came from.

Don't let anyone tell you what you should do with your future. Take advice from everyone but you do the research and find what you want because at the end of the day when the lights go out, you are the one that has to face it all over again in the morning.

When you look at the list of jobs on MyPers to cross train into find ones from the list that you would be interested in. Only choose those that you know you would like. Interview individuals. Ask them what is the good, the bad, and the ugly about their job. You want to know what they love and what they hate about their daily tasks. Weigh your options. For my job interview most of the complaints were that it was long hours and they were stuck inside with no windows. Compared to what I had at least I wasn't facing twelve hours in the snow holding a shotgun and flak gear.

What do I wish I had done differently? I wish I had been able to talk to the airmen one-on-one about what they didn't like or did like. I didn't realize at the time that they did not want to tell me the full truth in front of their superintendent. I wish that I had been able to shadow someone for a week on the job. So far those are the only two things I can think of that I would have done differently. Do I regret my choice? No, honestly I don't. Even though I have recently been going through a rough spot with training and everything else on my plate, in the end it has really been worth it. My outlook on everything is so much better. I don't come home hating my job. I have a great team that I work with day to day. My supervisor is the best supervisor I have had. The options for this job are endless compared to my last job.

Meet with your career advisor and get to know what options are open for you. Kudos to you for looking ahead for the next two years. Keep your chin up.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2017 10:15 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 May 2017 10:15:18 -0400

There is a reason the "tip of the spear" is pointy. Not everyone can fit on it. The spear is made up of the head (blade) and the shaft. Without the shaft, a spear is just a blade lying around. But it takes both parts of the spear AND someone competent to throw it (or otherwise employ it) for there to be an effect. Not everyone is going to be able to see the end result of their part in the operation.

You have to know that when you do your job to or above standard, it allows others to do their job, and eventually accomplish the mission. Sometimes it's tough thinking that what you're doing at any particular moment has any real effect on The Big Picture. I've been there; covered in oil and grease, reconnecting fluid lines to a T-55-GA-714 engine on a CH-47 Chinook, and wondering why I was doing everything I was. But you have to look at things at your level. My epiphany was when the CH-47D helicopter that I had worked on (taken apart, inspected, put back together) went out for its maintenance test flight (MTF) and it didn't fall out of the sky. You have to savor the accomplishments that you have where you are.

The ordnance techs that maintained, housed, and secured the MOAB that was dropped on ISIS weren't there to see it detonate first hand. Yet, they know that their efforts led to a significant achievement in that part of the mission. You have to have that mindset.

But take the others' advice and if you choose to cross-train, know what you are getting into. Sometimes what you see as a "better" job turns out to be worse than the one that you just left.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made May 1 at 2017 12:16 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Mon, 01 May 2017 12:16:25 -0400

We get this all the time where I am - junior leaders tell us senior NCOs that they don't know whether or not their products are useful. I'm in intel so it kind of matters to know whether or not a product you work on for days actually made it to the commander or not. A lot of people (military and civilian) are kind of disgruntled here.

I was going to do four years - I hit 13 in July. I was the one in my group of friends in basic who was getting out and everyone else was retiring. I think I'm the only one from that group still on active duty and one person is NG still. Everyone else got out.

I've heard this pretty much in every unit I've been in whether an Army unit or the two joint units I've been in. I have had people who a certain unit was their first unit and they judged the Army on that. I always tell anyone - any service - to at least try one other unit before making a decision to get out. You can't judge the military on your first unit.

I'm staying in because of my daughter in all honesty. If she didn't have the medical condition she has I think I would have probably not reenlisted last year and gotten out this year in August like I was supposed to. But I'm also so close to 20 that I may as well just keep going.

I've liked most of the things I've done. There's one unit - my last one - that was the most toxic, horrible units I've ever been in. That unit a lot of people said "I was going to stay in until I got here." Thankfully it no longer exists.

If you think you want to get out you need to look at all your options and you better have a plan for if you were to ETS. Too many servicemembers don't plan for after the military. Also realize that people feel like this in the civilian world too. It can happen at any type of job.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made May 1 at 2017 4:03 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 01 May 2017 16:03:49 -0400

Well for me personally, it was wearing the uniform. I know that no one appreciates what I do or even understands what I do. But I know what I do and the contribution I bring to the table and that's always been good enough for me.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made May 2 at 2017 4:42 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Tue, 02 May 2017 16:42:51 -0400

As a civilian, everything is thankless...I just remember that I have bills to pay...keep gas in the truck...some food on the table.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made May 2 at 2017 4:43 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Tue, 02 May 2017 16:43:16 -0400

I miss being a Soldier.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made May 4 at 2017 8:08 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Thu, 04 May 2017 20:08:04 -0400

SrA Macklin. Here's an experiment for you to think about, or if you're really adventurous, try not fulfilling your responsibilities for a while. You may feel what you do is thankless, but I'll bet if you stop you'll be questioned about it quick enough.
The entire chain likes to think they have a close enough relation with their people that the people know they are appreciated without being told. Many make the same mistake in a personal relationship. The fact is, everyone needs a "great job" or some indication they are valued from time to time. You may not see the results of your contribution, but imagine the impact in the end product if you weren't there.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2017 5:37 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 May 2017 17:37:07 -0400

Drink alcohol

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made May 12 at 2017 8:30 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Fri, 12 May 2017 08:30:32 -0400

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member:
It must be very challenging for you, indeed.
If I were you: as a motivation to stick with the military- I would (1) Travel (2) Try to get promoted (3) Try to change your MOS....This Can be done; as I changed my MOS from Communications [165th Signal] to Special Services [03C]. (4) Move to an off-base place of residence [I did this as well, SrA Mackin.]
Good luck to you; and, I send you my most fervent prayers-
Margaret C. Higgins U.S. Army (Ret), Coach/Photographer

Response by SSgt David Marks made Dec 29 at 2017 10:55 PM

SSgt David Marks — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 22:55:31 -0500

SrA Mackie. Think hard, real hard. It's tough I know, but there are a few things you need to know. It might be hard and mentally difficult. The USAF of today is not the USAF of my day. I got out on 1988. Today's USAF Is more politically correct, but you can do ok. Concentrate on your job, do everything you can to become the best you can at what you do, read the regs that cover your AFSC, and abide by them, on maintenance jobs learn the TO's and follow them. Keep a good attitude, no matter how down you get. You signed a contract for 4 or 6 years. Make a promise to yourself and stick to it. As a Supervisor I would tell all our new recruits, serve out your contract, your goal is that unloaded Honorable Discharge, that way your future will not be hindered once you get out. Serve honorably, and thank you for your service, from an old veteran.

Response by SSgt Thomas Hirschey made Dec 30 at 2017 4:31 PM

SSgt Thomas Hirschey — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 16:31:39 -0500

I motivated myself for the most part. I didn’t care if anyone else appreciated what I did.