I Wish Employers Had Standards Like the Military

To each and all of you that have served in the military, I personally thank you for your comments. 

I also have and still have problems with the standards of these cilivians and how they operate on their jobs. Some call us " A threat to the workforce." 

These types of people like to play mind games and undermine your personal working standards by trying to suck up to the company. 

My working standards reflect me and me only, since there's no working standards within the company peers. I  served in the Army from 1981 to 1991 after the Desert Storm Conflict. I tried to return back in but Bush Sr. was cutting down all of our military forces at that time, so I went to the National Guards for another 11 years to retire from there as a E-6.

Even the guard treated me as a "know it all" because I had the updated on the rules and regulations. They used me for everything and I out-shined everyone, but didn't receive anything but more responsibilities.

It's true that the majority just don't care. It's about a paycheck, fame, being someone special to the boss, etc. Instead of working together in unity they would rather you do it for them while they collect and do barely nothing. 

No matter where I go and work it's the same. But, I have to keep busy doing something to improve or help those in need.

I wish I knew of employment that has standards and a sense of purpose like the military. I just have standards, which have always worked for me.

(Submitted by P. Thompson)

Comments

[Oguthrie]

Your comments made me proud.

I also remember having to wear many hats in the military, because the mission depended on it....and it was my job.

Upon retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 1997, I discovered that each of the multiple hats I wore were actually a person's ENTIRE job in a civilian company.

During that service, I learned some very important lessons. I'd like to share two of these lessons with you now that applied during my military career and that I've successfully applied since then.

We, active and retired military, have an edge on most of our civilian counterparts, as taught to us in tough, unforgiving environments where you "don't get a second chance to make a good first impression"!

We learned how to Train the Way You'll Fight. Fight the Way You've Trained.

Because whether you or your buddies are currently active, or on reserve, just retired, or have long since transitioned to a civilian "uniform", we are still part of a team of winners; having served or serving in the armed forces of the United States !!

Discover how you can STILL "do more by 8 AM than most do all day”, by learning what I learned.

Yes ! There IS employment where there ARE standards and a sense of purpose like the military.....YOURS !

See what I mean, and how you can continue to apply those WELL-EARNED STANDARDS by clicking on the Oguthrie URL, below.

Share it with your buds.

[VHJM van Neerven]

Dear P, Thompson,

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I often find myself in the same quandary. Especially your "They used me for everything and I out-shined everyone, but (I) didn't receive anything but more responsibilities" struck a chord.

Lik you, I work by standards that work for me and many other people, learned as a child, reinforced by Army Service and much volunteer work (I'm disabled now). But the market place has no place for my kind.

You work hard and well and then more responsibilities are sent your way. Which is alright, if there ever was a kind word or other token of appreciation.
And a look at whether you're not being asked to do too much would help as well. But very little of that comes my way.

People not seeing you for what you are and what standards you live by can break the strongest man's back. I thought it was a personal or even a personality problem I have.

Your letter makes me see things in better perspective. It gives me a lot of support.
Thank you so much for that.

Kindest regards.
Let's keep up the good fight, all this notwithstanding

[Robert Johnson]

Thompson,

I know where you are coming from. I retired some fourteen years ago from the Marines (E8) and have held several jobs in the private sector. There are two that stand out, one while working at Ft. Rucker as a contractor in the hydraulic component reapir department. They were wroking form antiquated work cards with outdates maintenance times. I found that I could repair, test, have the item inspected and returned to be used again within half the time on the work cards. Needless to say I did not last long at the job. Three months or so I think. When I finally left the company there was about three months of work that had been completed sitting on my shelf waiting to be turned back to the squadrons. I was told on many occasions to stop work and take breaks, on other days I was told not to touch any components just turn in from my shelf. Sadly to say that mindset ran throughout the department. The other job was at a major airline as a production supervisor. When i finally met teh crew, I later found out that thye were taking bets on how long I would last being retired military. After 9/11 I found out that most if not all were living form overtime. There were many occasions where certain jobs could be completed before the weekend but because of their constan feeding from overtime dollars they would slow down and drive the overtime. Management di little to stem their diet. On one occasion I had ahd enough and called them out for what they were. This was early in the morning, 0200, they called the manager and he came in and things went down hill from there. A very loud conversation wa held in my office between the two of us which the crew herd. I later apologized to the guys but explained why I said what I had said. I tried to explain my work ethics to them and there was one mechanic that undrerstood, he was a former Marine. I would like to think that they changed somewhat. I did not change what I had lived for over thirty some odd years and some came around. All I can say is don't you dare change you. Work to be an example of waht they can be.
Top J signing off.

[Bianca Gordon]

You hit the nail right on the head. After spending 13 years in the Army and being medically discharged, I had a hard time finding employment where there were any standards whatsoever. I was a recruiter before discharged in '05 so many of the jobs I was offered were headhunter positions. On the first job, it was awful they would hire low wage workers (usually immigrants, some of which were professors or doctors in their native countries.) Certain jobs would not hire people using public transportation! I lasted a whole 30 days!! I then went to another position in the same field. Here I lasted 45 days. Then I moved on to my final position in the headhunting business and lasted 60 days. This was my clue that the civilian workforce was not for me. I had standards and morals which weren't being met at those firms. I am now in a civil service position where it is a tad better, but you still have people working in those positions who feel like they are owed something and that they are doing soldiers a favor by helping them out. I continue to uphold my standards regardless of the lack of standards in many of my counterparts. After all, those who are still serving deserve respect, dignity, and loyalty.

[Bryan Luciani]

I retired in 2005 as a CWO, after 22 years in the Navy. I had some excellent leaders in my time that trained me that thoughts and decisions go in this order: 1) My Ship, 2) My shipmate, 3) Myself. That motto has led me to many successes and I still live by it. In the civilian workforce I applied it as; My Company, My workmates, Myself. I can't begin to tell you how shocked I was to not only notice that they thought I was insane (putting others before myself) but to actually put the company before people. I would explain that the mission comes first or else we'd all be out of a job. Their response would be that the company couldn't care less about us, so why should we put their interests ahead of our own. My biggest mistake was retiring at 22 years. The military is a smooth, well-greased machine compared to the nightmares out here. I caution my brothers and sisters when they transition to civilian life to keep expectations low and you won't be so seriously disappointed.

[Michael Stuchell]

Must be a Military thing!!

Thats what I always heard, even earned me the nickname SARGE, even though I am a retired Chief.

No wonder American manufacturing has a problem, the work ethic barely exists. You do a good job and your a company man or your trying to suck up to the boss.(Speaking from a Union perspective).

I retired in 1998 and two months later found myself in manufacturing. I always do a good job and give 110% even if it's cleaning the toilets. Slow down, don't worry about the product you're not buying it, and don't try and do a good job the company don't care, I heard it all.

You know what, I CARE, and always will. You can take the person out of the military but you can't take the military out of the person.

Proud to have served and served well.

I'll sign my name to any job I do!

[Michael PAul]

I am grateful for the many that have served since the majority in my family have and some have lost their live doing so. I am not in the Military but I do own a Machine shop, this is a business I learned bottom up and I still maintain my personal quest for being well informed. I got here on my own hard work and desire to eventually own a business.
In this economy I am in survival mode where I have had to cut my work force since customers are not buying machined parts like they used to. Cleaning the bathrooms and sweeping the floors is common for me to do even when I was booming because it is a part of business -- something that needs to be done. When I explain that to employees they look at me like I have three heads or they feel like they are being demoted, I dont know. What I do know is when they see me do those tasks they become more inclined to comply.

So my point here is that I believe it is all about a persons work ethic. I have no Military training so to say civilians are not as good as Military personnel in the work force is insulting to me. I do recognize I am a part of the minority but at the same time my friends who are in diverse work backgrounds share my work ethic. I believe this is from part of how we are raised but mostly from our desire to succeed and be self sufficient and to help others do the same. We just do what needs to be done and the most gratifying part of owning a business is that I can surround myself (work force) with people who share my work ethic. I dont have to put up with lazy people who do the minimum just to get by.
I have had people say that I am hard to work for which I disagree since I pay very well and offer great benefits which is very expensive especially when being a small business. The best deserve the best in my book.