What is really the wisdom behind when you say "you create your own career"?

2016-02-24T14:18:13-05:00

Military profession
General knowledge

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 2:22 PM

2016-02-24T14:22:37-05:00

To me, it means that career progression is self-service. You need to grab at what you want and proactively set goals and take steps to accomplish them.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 2:29 PM

2016-02-24T14:29:47-05:00

Yeah I really don't know because I've done everything right and to the standard and it seems to get me nowhere. In the mean time others who are jacked up and sub standard reap the awards and get promoted. I don't get it. Somewhere along the line it seems the Army broke.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 24 at 2016 2:30 PM

2016-02-24T14:30:07-05:00

Your destiny is in your hands.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 2:44 PM

2016-02-24T14:44:11-05:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member, great question. In my humble opinion, I think you can say it starts from the time you took the ASVAB. Did you take practice tests first to help prepare you for the real test so that you could achieve the best possible score in-order to obtain the best possible MOS that interested you. Everything after that is more or less in your hands. You have the choice to exceed all standards in PT, discipline, Military training, civilian education and the overall Soldier concept. One of my first Platoon SGT's once told me that you will get more out of the Army if you put more effort into the Army. You have to go beyond just making formations ontime, scoring a 250 on the APFT and just doing your job. You have to attempt to exceed the standards in all areas. Do more than your job. Volunteer for additional duties. Any tasks or duty position is not worth your time if you are not going to put total effort into it and make things better than how you found it. Attempt Soldier, NCO and Officer of the Year boards. Volunteer to being the UMO, UPL of SHARP/EEO NCO.....etc. Volunteer for color guard, attempt the SAMC or SGT Morales board. Try to take special assignments such as recruiting, Drill SGT, AIT Platoon SGT, Instructor/Writer or MOS and non-MOS specific broadening opportunities if possible. If you just want to coast and be average, then your career will be just that. It you want more out of your career, then it will take more effort.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 24 at 2016 8:08 PM

2016-02-24T20:08:53-05:00

A career is the result of something created over time. The Military is unique in that it gives you the opportunity every few years to redefine yourself to excel in a different direction at a different place, with different people. Those that find it invigorating and take full advantage of it usually wind up having good careers. Those who sit back and let the world define them typically don't have good and frequently don't have careers. Like most anything else, it's what you put into it.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Feb 24 at 2016 8:44 PM

2016-02-24T20:44:56-05:00

I can't improve on what's already been written. Like I was told, "No one care more about your career than you do" by a 1SG many moons ago as a young Speedy 4. It's true. I scrapped, pushed, poked and prodded my whole career to get where I ended up. It was worth it.

Response by SSG Melvin Nulph made Feb 24 at 2016 9:46 PM

2016-02-24T21:46:47-05:00

To me, it's of an "Eye Opener or Wake Up Call", you might say. A key to life as well as what you must do to really live it the way you desire".
"Why settle for washing dishes when we want to own our own restaurant"? Yes, we may have to start off with dishes or clearing tables, then learn to cook as you continue to move up to bigger & better things in that career field. All them steps we take & things we are learning happens to be the way we are creating our own career. Once we hit our goal, in this case owning a restaurant, it should be like never working another day in our lives (Love what you're doing and it's like not working)...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 11:13 AM

2016-02-25T11:13:53-05:00

What happens if your care about your career advancement and assignments for said career but have been repeatedly denied by branch? Then how is your career in your own hands when you are denied opportunities based on what units branch is sending you to?

Response by SGM Lonnie Durand made Feb 25 at 2016 12:18 PM

2016-02-25T12:18:16-05:00

In my humble opinion it goes back to something an old SFC told me at my first duty station, he said "Lonnie, no matter how much anyone tells you they care about you, and they probably really will, you have to take care of yourself". He went on to tell me that meant taking the hard jobs, leadership jobs, extra jobs like Drill Sergeant-Recruiter-etc., stay within your grade unless opportunity dictates (and stay satisfied), take care of your Soldiers always, take care of yourself always (i.e. PT, school-back then the Army was a little different and he told me to take some time to better myself before I went out and enjoyed myself and that's what I did., etc.), stay humble (hardest part IMHO), stay grounded in your family (when it's all over, they are the ones left to deal with you). It meant to make sure that my records were perfect, and that I had the knowledge to know what perfect looked like as a SPC and after. It meant I knew WHAT were the right jobs. Most of my career was spent where the Army needed me, I asked to go to Drill Sgt School and they sent me. I asked to go to Airborne School and branch denied me, however with the intervention of my BC I made it to Fort Bragg. I tried to do that through the years, I think it worked for me as I succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. On top of what I've stated, the obvious is performing at your best in every job you are given. No matter what job or task you are given, it is you who determines how it is accomplished. My two cents.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 12:42 PM

2016-02-25T12:42:08-05:00

Thank you for everyone commenting this view it's overwhelming to know that greatness still occurs on rally point !

Response by SSG Jay OConnor made Feb 25 at 2016 2:22 PM

2016-02-25T14:22:15-05:00

I take it as... Your every action has a consequence and your every inaction also has a consequence. For example, Going to a lot of boards early in your career will only help in the long run or avoiding calling cadence early in your career will also hinder you when you become a leader because of you do not, you are looked at as an incompetent leader who can't lead troops.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2016 8:37 AM

2016-02-26T08:37:49-05:00

Do not be an oxygen thief, or a zebra.
Carry yourself in a fashion you want others to emulate.
Do not just recite the NCO Creed, LIVE IT.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jul 8 at 2016 9:17 AM

2016-07-08T09:17:02-04:00

Opportunities (great ones) usually only knock at the door once. If you don't grab it, you loose. Also take a break and think about yourself- what have you got to bring to the table? Also remember working one place, you may gain a skill which later in life just might feed your face and pay the bills.
I worked as a professional guide in Idaho. Part of my job was shoeing horses. Little did I know I'd make a career out of it. I've since been certified here in Denmark, taken a certification test in the States as well. I've got a good enough business going now that my wife no longer needs to work. Had I planned on this road? No, but through the other job it came about.

So it may be with your life. Never turn down an opportunity to learn something- be it a hands on trade skill or book learning. Knowledge is power and provides your needs.