How would you recommend dealing with a command that continues to downplay your role and MOS/NEC?

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 14:38:47 -0500

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2017 2:58 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 14:58:32 -0500

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member In my four years in the Marine Corps, no. During my civilian career, I had several bosses that were this way. I continued to do my job to the best of my ability. One boss could not hack it and left. My last boss was very bad. I never said anything, but my boss was laid off and I took his place. By working hard and staying out of politics, I managed to be the last person standing out of a fourteen person section. My job ended when the Space Shuttle program was completed. During my 33 career, I observed many leadership changes, some good, some bad. You can either leave or stay and put forth your best effort. I have the deepest respect for your MOS of Corpsman. Thank you for serving.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2017 3:59 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 15:59:10 -0500

Well you could always try to PCS or you can show them what you do and how that impacts the overall mission of the organization.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2017 10:56 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 22:56:32 -0500

Just do your job to the best of your ability and let your success and record speak for itself. Someone will notice.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 11 at 2017 11:02 PM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 23:02:45 -0500

You just focus on what you can control, not what you cannot. Do your job the best you can. If your job was not important, the Navy would not have it. That said, many jobs in the Army (most every one) are support jobs, and we spend our lives supporting the main effort, but we are not the main effort. I suspect the Navy, the Marines and Air Force are the same. If you are a support Soldiers/Sailor, you need to focus on what you do, and know (A) they could not succeed without you, and (B) accept that many days no will every know you are there, until you are not. PO2 Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SFC George Smith made Mar 12 at 2017 12:47 AM

SFC George Smith — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 00:47:49 -0500

Interesting Vies... I always Found doing the Job and as Much Else as I could Helped things... we called it Soldering through and out of it... remember, Most of the Officers are only going to be there for a Year and 18 months at Worst...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2017 9:27 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 09:27:23 -0400

I'm curious, if you feel comfortable answering on this site, about your situation. I couldn't really follow the navy acronyms in your profile irt your assignment. Are you assigned to that ship? Or is it that you work in an onshore hospital with civilians where your ship is docked (based?). But if the ship deploys, do the civilians stay behind and you go with the ship? I'm surprised to hear of any command that doesn't appreciate their medics. If I had to pick one specialty that is normally universally respected it would be that one.

But I can relate to being in a small specialty that doesn't get a lot of priority/interest. As a PSYOPer, we were often that little team that no one really knew what we did or how we could help the main effort. Often it would be a fight just to get into the key planning sessions and be included in the loop. And we had to constantly try and fight off taskings for our personnel to do unrelated stuff. But we always strove to be as well prepared and professional as we could, so that when that moment came where an opportunity to show our stuff would finally arise, that we would be prepared to maximize it. So you have to keep a sense of internal pride in your skills and capabilities, even when no one else really seems to care. And at times you do have to stand up for yourself (ie your specialty). As a general once said "if you don't blow your own horn every now and then, some other SOB will use it as a funnel".