Defense Logistics Agency’s Post

I was asked the differences I saw with officer and enlisted in corporate America so here goes a very short list. Out of probably 100 former enlisted, only 1 was a POS. *Great at operations and most I knew were top performers *Ready to lead on day 1 and people are ready to follow *Don't get into the office politics *Promotion ceiling is low because they are honest and direct which is what corporate America calls, lacking soft skills. *Don't put up with stupid Out of probably 20 officers, 3 were sub-standard. *Don't handle the micromanagement engrained in corporate managers very well. *2 sub-standards were heavily involved in office politics, i.e. back stabbers. The 3rd employed all the dirty tactics at his disposal to get promoted and it worked. *Over half were top performers but were fired, quit, or transferred due to inability to adapt to corporate culture. Interested to hear the differences you see #veterans #veteranshelpingveterans #leadershipdevelopment #leaders #marines #militarytransition

Latest thoughtful blog post from Mike Donahue.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up This Really Happened Specifics are changed. Corporate managers keep good people by dangling the promotion carrot in front of them. One of our top performing managers couldn't get promoted. She should have been hired at a higher level but so it goes. When it became known she had another job lined up, a promotion suddenly became available, and she was offered the position. Only problem is it wasn't actually available at the time, but "a position" would have likely become available months later. Maybe! I didn't tell her it was all BS but recommended she take the other job when she said it fit her people person personality much better. She took the other job and is doing well. You Can't Make This Stuff Up #veterans #veteranshelpingveterans #marines #leadershipdevelopment #leaders

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶? Yesterday, I received an unexpected call from a former soldier of mine, Smith (pictured top left). I haven’t seen Smith since 2017. Despite the years, when I saw his name, I immediately answered. He’s been considering some career moves and wanted to talk through them, much like we would when he was a 19-year-old private. He’d been watching my transition from afar and during our call he was probing into what life is like on the “outside” and how I found my way. He reminded me of how I advised him as a young man in the Army, citing specific examples in vivid detail as if these moments occurred days, not years ago. I could tell by the way he spoke that those moments meant a lot and stayed with him over a decade later after we first met. I was very pleased to learn that my leadership had left such a lasting impression on him and he’s found so much success in the Military. Beyond proud of him. This is a reminder to my network that being in leadership is much more than 1:1’s and year-end reviews. Your team should be able to lean on you for guidance, support, and mentorship. Pour into your people. Leadership is not a responsibility that should be taken lightly. Take care of your teams and make every day count! #LeadershipImpact #MentorshipMatters #Veterans #TheBrotherhood #82airborne

Most senior enlisted leadership positions in the military are actually individual contributor roles Prove me wrong ((Is the picture appropriate? 😅)) #quinnsights This isn’t a bad thing Until we talk about all the people we lead at our units and get asked the question: How many direct reports? ((how many evals did you write)) #militarytransition This is the crux of why “responsible for” isn’t a good phrase for the transition Why it is soooo important to accurately capture WHAT YOU DID And that you spend the time doing career exploration before getting out So you can find the right role for you AND reflect all the incredible things you did in a way that makes sense out here P.S. My first post-military job was a highly-paid individual contributor role advising leaders across the entire workforce Kind of like being a Sergeant Major Questions?

Had a conversation that put my brain in this space. I’ll post the conversation in the comments. 18 months post-military life and the emotional toll is heavy. Transitioning after 20 years, including 15 in recruiting, is no easy feat. Veterans, especially those with leadership backgrounds, are untapped goldmines! We’ve honed leadership, resilience, and people skills in the world’s toughest sales and operational environments. Employers, don’t look beyond the uniform, LOOK FOR IT. Demand Senior Military Leaders be targeted by your sourcing specialist for your most challenging positions. Senior Military, earn it, learn the difference between roles, don’t feel entitled to anything, but once you get it, absolutely CRUSH IT! #veteran #militarytocivilian #leadership #transitioning #newbeginnings

“Lee, Congratulations on another successful mission-maker in the month of July! I am very thankful and proud of the team you have built there in Springfield and the entire District has become confidently reliant on your sustained success. In gratitude, please accept this book on the topic of…to add to your personal library. Best of luck next month, Make Mission! Semper Fi, D.G. Goulet” An amazingly effortless way to encourage and sustain a high-level of performance from your absolute best employees is to recognize the value of their contributions by highlighting their achievements and rewarding them for their hard work. When I was on Recruiting Duty for the Marine Corps as a Recruiting Station Commanding Officer (RSCO), my Recruiting District Commanding Officer, Colonel David Goulet would recognize those RSCOs who had achieved their “mission” at the end of every month by presenting us with a book to add to our own personal/professional libraries. As you would imagine, many of the books were focused on leadership, military history, and/or how to achieve success in life. I looked forward to receiving a new book each month and the fact is, I worked even harder to ensure I could add more books to my library. What made this special each month was the Colonel would take the time to pen a personal note on the inside cover of each book (the example found above) and it was personalized and meaningful – he did not have to do this, but he did. In doing so, not only did he recognize personal achievement and the contributions of my team, but he made an investment in my continued professional development as a leader within the organization and it encouraged me to raise my performance to an even higher-level. Some might dismiss gestures like this as too simplistic or unnecessary – TRY IT, YOU MAY BE AMAZED BY THE RESULTS! PAY IT FORWARD. Semper Fi, Lee #marinecorps #recruiting #leadership #leadershipmatters

For any #veterans and #transitioningveterans I highly recommend this program! I remember when I was transitioning out during COVID it was hard to figure out what I was passionate about, what career options were available to me, and how to strategically pursue those options. It isn’t a recruiting program, it’s all about what YOU want to do, forging your new path as a new or soon to be Civilian. I wish I was able to attend CORE Leadership and I recommend it to anyone who I talk to about getting out of the military! #COREPrograms #impactthatmatters #militarytransition #deloitte

In the face of declining enlistment numbers, particularly evident in the Army National Guard over the past decade, it's time to recognize that recruitment and retention are two sides of the same coin. While we often emphasize the benefits of joining—like specialized job training and educational support—we must also acknowledge the challenges of retaining our service members. Chief among these is the struggle to transition seamlessly into civilian life, a leading cause of voluntary separation. To address these intertwined issues, we need a holistic strategy. This includes expanding healthcare benefits through Tricare Prime, promoting the 'college first' program to safeguard educational pursuits, and fundamentally reshaping our leadership education model. Transitioning from a transactional to a transformational leadership approach is key. This means fostering a culture that prioritizes the development and well-being of our personnel over personal agendas. By tackling both recruitment and retention challenges head-on, we can ensure a resilient and empowered military force ready to meet the demands of the future. #recruiting #retention #leadership

“The Military Order of World 🌎 Wars” Military officers who have retired or are still in service possess a wealth of experience, knowledge, and leadership skills that can greatly benefit the Military Order of World Wars (MOWW). By joining MOWW, these officers can continue to serve their country in a different capacity, leveraging their expertise to contribute to the organization's mission of promoting patriotism, fostering goodwill, and advocating for a strong national defense. Their participation adds depth and perspective to the discussions and initiatives within MOWW, enriching the experience for all members. Moreover, retired and active-duty military officers play a crucial role in mentoring the next generation of leaders within MOWW. By sharing their insights and guidance, they help cultivate a new cadre of patriotic and principled leaders who are committed to serving their country and upholding its values. Through mentorship programs and leadership development initiatives, these seasoned officers can impart invaluable lessons learned from their own military careers, shaping the future of the organization and the nation. Beyond MOWW, military officers, both retired and active, should also consider joining a variety of civic organizations and professional organizations. These affiliations provide opportunities for networking, professional development, and community engagement, allowing officers to broaden their horizons, stay connected with fellow service members, and make meaningful contributions to society. By participating in diverse organizations, military leaders can gain new perspectives, foster collaboration across different sectors, and promote positive change in their communities and beyond. In conclusion, military officers who have retired or are still in service have much to gain from joining the Military Order of World Wars, as well as other civic and professional organizations. Through their involvement, they can continue to serve their country, mentor the next generation of leaders, and contribute to the betterment of society. By embracing these opportunities for engagement and collaboration, they uphold the values of service, patriotism, and leadership that define the military profession. Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 has an active chapter, interested in learning more, reach out and let’s talk. Together our future is great! #ServiceContinues #MentorshipMatters #CommunityEngagement #LeadershipDevelopment