MBAs? How about hiring a Soldier for the job?

2013-12-14T14:35:27-05:00

<p>I read the following article by Col David Sutherland (Ret) and it was very interesting.  He says that "the difference between a master sergeant and an MBA is that the master sergeant has been doing it for 20 years."  </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>I am curious what the business owners out there think about this article.  I am also curious what advice that they would give to Senior NCOs as they transition out of the Service and into the private sector.  </p><p><br></p><p>http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2013/12/04/hiring-mbas-you-should-be-looking-at-ncos/</p><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://b-i.forbesimg.com/forbesleadershipforum/files/2013/12/300px-US_Army_52356_I_Corps_Induction_Ceremony.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2013/12/04/hiring-mbas-you-should-be-looking-at-ncos/" target="_blank">Hiring MBAs? You Should Be Looking at NCOs</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">This article is by Col. David Sutherland (Ret.), who commanded a combat brigade in Iraq, has served as special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and is co-founder and chairman of...</div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Dec 14 at 2013 6:20 PM

2013-12-14T18:20:58-05:00

That article has already come up on RP once... Good comments on it.

Response by TSgt Phillip L. made Dec 15 at 2013 4:20 AM

2013-12-15T04:20:45-05:00

While thought provoking points, as a business owner I can think of several reasons not to hire a SNCO without a formal civilian education. The first one that comes to mind is...how did you serve that many years with tuition assistance and the GI Bill, and not get a degree? To me that shows tunnel vision, and a lack of planning. Another issue, one I struggled with myself when entering management in the civilian sector, was the reality that employees can quit anytime...and do. Employees can walk out the door, and pretty much get away with it. Generally no matter how bad an employee screws up, the worst you can do is fire them. That costs money. In many cases...my money.

In the military we have a lot of "weeding out" experiences and opportunities. We've all seen a dirt bag, and as NCO's many of us have pushed them out the door when they didn't pull their heads out of their butts. Basic training is a good example of this. Think of college like the civilian equivalent of basic training. As a manager, if I want someone I an count on, some sort of degree is a prerequisite. It shows that you know how to play the civilian game.

Here's the killer combo that smart employers want: NCO management experience & a relevant college degree to the career field.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2013 6:42 PM

2013-12-27T18:42:45-05:00

I disagree with this. While the Army is great about helping leaders gain management skills and experience, there is an element of education that comes out of B-School that is vital to many management positions.

NCO's are a great fit for functional management positions. Most could step into a managerial role at a low to mid-level and be highly successful. They could also probably progress from these roles. I have seen it on many occassions.

However, it would be hard for a NCO, no matter how senior, to step into a more executive-level or strategic-level position without at least some formal education. At that level, it is important to understand how interrelated many different business functions are. An example of this: When I was working for a major company in logistics, we had an Assistant General Manager who had come straight from being a E-8 in the Marine Corps. Most of his ideas were not based in reality and he was easily led astray by BS financial reporting which led him to push certain initiatives which were fiscally not sound. This was not due to weakness as a leader, but a severe lack of education on the subjects at play. He was one of the most inspiring and strong leaders I have ever met, but he was not able to provide the needed leadership at that level without education.

There are companies that have great programs for transitioning military members that help them capitalize on their experience and grow with the company.