What Military trait do you think will help you be successful in your civilian career?

2015-04-27T08:20:37-04:00

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 8:24 AM

2015-04-27T08:24:36-04:00

Attention to detail and being on time all the time.

Response by SSG Kenneth Lanning made Apr 27 at 2015 8:32 AM

2015-04-27T08:32:43-04:00

Definitely drill and ceremony abilities - flipping around a rifle while marching is something every IT geek should know how to do, right? O.o ...

In all seriousness though, work ethic in general is major - being able to just get the job done without complaining and staying to task, as well the ability to follow and enforce rules and regulations.

Response by SSG Kenneth Lanning made Apr 27 at 2015 8:41 AM

2015-04-27T08:41:57-04:00

Funny story on this topic. I have a 4 year break in service, while I was a civilian again, I worked for a cell phone company in an in-bound call center. I was out on my breaking having a cigarette, and when I was done I put it out and put the butt in my pocket...one of the supervisors asked me why I did that (I was right next to the ashcan); here's why.

1995 in Ft. Riley I was a PV2 on fall clean up, and the post CSM walked up to me and asked what I was doing. I went to parade rest and told him I was on clean up detail. He asked me what I was doing as he was walking up, and I told him I was smoking a cigarette, and apologized for this-he stated no problem, smoking is fine, but what did I do with the cigarette butt...it was on the ground. He asked me to pick it up, I did, and then asked if I knew what a BN formation looked like; I answered yes. He then told me (my team chief had walked up by now) to make a BN formation in his office by COB out of cigarette butts...all 500 "Soldiers" strong. At COB I had finally managed, after hitting up every ash tray I could find, to make the formation, he was happy, and then stated he will see me again the next day...this went on for a month. Needless to say, there weren't many cigarette butts around the post.

When I finished relaying this, one of the guys I worked with actually picked up his cigarette butt and put it in the ash can...my job was done.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 27 at 2015 8:43 AM

2015-04-27T08:43:08-04:00

Mission accomplishment.

Response by LtCol Joseph Crane made Apr 27 at 2015 9:09 AM

2015-04-27T09:09:22-04:00

Integrity. Although veterans possess many great traits, without integrity the rest will fall apart.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 9:58 AM

2015-04-27T09:58:50-04:00

Sad to say but I have many friends in HR who stay the number one reason they hire military veterans is they know they will show up to work.

Civilians apparently don't set the bar to high on some standards

That aside would have to agree with SMSgt Thomas that the AF Core Values will take you much further in life than you know....all you have to do it apply them.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Apr 27 at 2015 10:07 AM

2015-04-27T10:07:37-04:00

My ability to communicate and be able to except others opinions.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Apr 27 at 2015 10:55 AM

2015-04-27T10:55:11-04:00

Psychological Openness. Of course, in the the civilian world, this is more of a one way street than it was in the military.

Response by 1SG Scott MacGregor made Apr 27 at 2015 11:48 AM

2015-04-27T11:48:20-04:00

For me the best trait was dedication to the job. So many co workers do things half way or stop when they feel like it. Those are the ones with no prior service. Lack to the attention of details and pride in the job they do also show the difference between a veteran and a civilian.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 27 at 2015 11:49 AM

2015-04-27T11:49:08-04:00

Mission mentality - just can't seem to walk away from a job not completed.
Clean as you go - I am amazed that most people don't
Lead from the front - again .. amazed that isn't the norm in business
Mission definition - fuzzy objectives end up in fuzzy projects
Standard practices - doing the same thing differently every time - gawk -
Manage by walking around - every Sargent since the Roman Army knows this.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 11:50 AM

2015-04-27T11:50:08-04:00

Absolutely the best trait for a civilian career is the ability to deal with bull ****. Just as important in the civilian world as it is in the military.

The ability to see through the bull and work in a team.

Response by SGT Anthony Rossi made Apr 27 at 2015 12:05 PM

2015-04-27T12:05:17-04:00

The best quality any military personnel gains from his service is the ability to handle drama from his supervisor. This is because quiting isn't an option. Many civilians lack the intestinal fortitude to weather the storm in there various places of employment. I've also noticed that many veterans that had a hard time with authority in the military also struggle In the civilian world.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 28 at 2015 1:23 PM

2015-04-28T13:23:54-04:00

The ability to plan, communicate, coordinate, and the ability to fix problems. If I was leading, I would use TLPs and OPORDs for complex operations. I would also use an organization chart and flow charts to learn about the corporation.

Response by MSgt David Heil made Apr 28 at 2015 8:18 PM

2015-04-28T20:18:08-04:00

For many years I have been in a position to hire people. I have interviewed and selected employees from all walks of life. The trait I find most helpful in your civilian career is the work ethic you develop from military service. 8:00 means 7:45 to a veteran but to someone who has never served......8:00 is usually viewed as a suggestion. As a supervisor this is very frustrating and very difficult to overcome.

Response by SGT John Wesley made Apr 29 at 2015 11:51 AM

2015-04-29T11:51:17-04:00

The willingness to adapt!

Response by A1C Jacque Chandler II made May 4 at 2015 3:27 PM

2015-05-04T15:27:46-04:00

The ability to give and and take orders without a necessary "clear" reason attached. So many non-veteran civilians have a hard time giving or taking a direct order from a higher positioned individual for what ever reason whether it be personal, business, or both. In the military we learned that (most of the time) there was a valid reason for doing what ever dirty, dastardly job we were volun-told to do without having to directly know the essential roots of the mission.

Also, the feeling as though what you do as an individual is worthy towards the overall mission. Each job I did as an Airman was vital to a certain mission whether I knew what that mission was or the end result of that mission. Just to know that mission went according to plan let me know that I did my job without flaw while at the same time being apart of a team that did their jobs together to achieve a common goal without fail. That type of camaraderie doesn't seem to exist as much in the civilian workforce. Everyone's either out for a pay check or a position title and the benefits. Most of the time you don't have this as much in the armed forces because you earn your rank through time (enlisted) so the waiting process seems fair. I miss that.

Response by SPC Alexander Brandt made Dec 3 at 2015 1:14 PM

2015-12-03T13:14:56-05:00

The haircut, am I right? Nothing says, "Professional," like a retarded high and tight.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2016 2:29 PM

2016-03-14T14:29:29-04:00

Service. Knowing that I am a part of an bigger organization and team. Service ensures that I do everything to the best of my ability and that I should constantly try to improve. Service means, At Times, You are Last.

Response by MGySgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2017 4:11 PM

2017-05-24T16:11:38-04:00

The largest trait that has helped bring success is adaptability. The ability to approach a problem from multiple angles that might not be an obvious solution or come from a text book. I've often blurted out an idea that brought team discussions to a new place. I've also been able to find new positions or contracts by remaining versatile. Once you have the ability to generally consider an idea from all aspects, you can realize there are multiple avenues of approach.