Mehrer Compression GmbH’s Post

Do you remember: What was the moment or conversation that sparked your interest in your current career? I'm often surprised by how a random event or chance conversation can be the turning point. For example, someone took an elective course that including a gliding lesson. That one lesson led to her getting a private pilot’s license, joining the Navy, and becoming a pilot. I’d love to hear your story. What was the turning point that set you on your career path? #careerpath #careerdevelopment #careertransition

EDGES OF THE RETIREMENT 4 Retirement, is about moving from a position of authority to a position of influence. I know, I know -- everything else but work is about influence. Influence -- being able to influence and being able to be influenced -- does more for our collective fabric than authority. Submission & subsuming to authority, abdicates many decisions for you. We collect that decision making into rank, into position. I for one -- am going from leading a staff of 300 members & 300-400 students on any given day, to leading a staff and manager of one. Hi, I'm the one. But it's not about replacing -- it's about gathering the positions & places you've been, then releasing them all to go back into the wild. Life, is always about influence. But more so covert influence than overt influence. As a cadet, we learned about positional vs personal power. Personal power is always there, always on the skin. Positional power is what covers the person -- the honorarium and regalia that come into the room, before the person shows up. People choose and want different aspects of their power to show up before them. Even the jobs we choose, connote a part of positional power onto them. We choose jobs and careers -- not just for the easy days, but for the days we never imagined as well. To be called upon -- is as much position as it is personal. But the reason, the quick response card, the initial report -- is different based on who we were vice who we're returning to be. #military #transition #uscg #coastguard #workforceagility

So you want to be an USCG Listened Boat Captain. Well the course is not easy to pass on your first go round. Your learning new information for the first time. Lots of it. Example no one every told me that North on my compass is not True North!!!! You need to make a compass correction from your chart for your area. I got a call yesterday that a young man was struggling and getting frustrated. Well don’t just talk about careers we help people reach their goals. What if you don’t know what military time is. What time is 2300hrs? How to do a set and drift? Making a difference one person at a time. https://lnkd.in/gEHFX9pu

Part of military retirement has led me to comb through old things and see what I can let go of. I think it’s true for many of us, military or non-military, that we tend to carry a lot of baggage. I always appreciated that every PCS allowed me to dispel some of that baggage. A good bathroom cabinet purge, a clean out of the garage…maybe purge the mind and spirit as well of the things that no longer serve me or lift me up. Retirement has almost felt like the ultimate purge and I’m okay with it. Get rid of the stuff that I haven’t seen in 5, 10, 15 years, maybe take a picture of something that’s special to me but doesn’t HAVE to be held on to (that “I Love Me” wall plaque x 20) and keep the rest as a testament to what really matters. As I was going through things, I came upon my worn copy of Colin Powell’s Rules. Pretty sure Abbi Johnson gave these to me 21 years ago when I took over the TMO from her at Malmstrom AFB. I read through them again and realized “hey, maybe my 11 yo can use these” and I presented them to him a bit like Gibbs does in NCIS. “Here, do this” and walked away. Kidding. I didn’t walk away (I am raising boys though…it does sometimes feel like an office of rookie agents up in here!) and we took the time to talk about it and he asked all of the questions he’s so good at asking. Right now in this phase of his 6th grade life we keep coming back to Rule 13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Today, for my 11 yo, it simply translates as “be positive and keep your chin up.” I know the rest will come in time. I’m looking forward to seeing how our focus on the different rules changes as he grows. And maybe even as I grow. What rule is resonating in your world today? #nostalgia #parenting #airforce #spaceforce #family

If you have a teenager who would like to go into the medical field, they may want to consider the US Air Force path (also true of other trades like HVAC). Here are 7 reasons why: ✅ You get paid to learn and serve at the same time. This is my daughter, graduating phase I of Aerospace Medical tech school this week ❤️ ✅ You learn discipline, teamwork, leadership, and many important life skills! ✅ When you leave the USAF in 4 years, you will have earned equivalent college credits and can continue further medical schooling with the GI bill. ✅ You are also immediately hirable with marketable skills upon re-entering civilian life. ✅ Like her, you can earn your National EMT certification during the process (or other certifications for the trades) ✅ You save money without a huge college bill or debt. ✅ If you have a 529 account: you can save it for further schooling post-military, roll it over to a Roth IRA for them with no tax penalties, or cash it in for them with a 10% penalty. So proud of you baby girl!

EMBRACING THE NEXT EDGE 4 Careers are built & lost on half & full measures. Many of us in the military chase that full measure. That’s a key, critical allure of the uniform. Whether we viscerally accept it or not — we recognize a full measure is required. Sure — much of that full measure is trivialized by the non-emergent & the routine. No email requires our full measure. But today, there are few ways in the world, to truly go all out. This will be always why the military attracts those willing to go into the fray. And why we must always honor, those who never return. Kahlil Gibran notes “Half a life is a life you didn't live”. This quote reminds me, we need to know for ourselves, when our full measure is done. Where we’ve done all we can, or learn where we have more to give. We don’t want to finish a career on the decline, but at some sort of peak or plateau. Much of that measure, that we each bring ourselves, changes over time. Or much of the full measure that held us in this cloth, stays with us to find other altars to serve under. No one wants to live or chase the half measure. And many times, we have to make major movements, to match the new measure we expect of ourselves. It takes a constancy of decisions to avoid living an half-lived life. #military #transition #retirement #uscg #selfawareness

The core values instilled in me during my time in the Army continue to guide my daily life. The principles of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage are not exclusive to the military; they are universal tenets that can profoundly impact everyone's life. Loyalty is about steadfast faithfulness—not just to our country or team but to our friends, family, and colleagues. It's about being present during tough times, offering unwavering support, and earning trust through reliability. Duty involves more than fulfilling tasks—it's about excelling in our roles, prioritizing the collective good, and being a steadfast pillar in work, school, and home life. Respect is the recognition of each person's value. Practicing respect means actively listening, embracing diverse perspectives, and engaging with others thoughtfully and courteously. Selfless Service is the essence of putting others' welfare ahead of our own. It manifests in our lives through acts of volunteerism, aiding those in need, and making personal sacrifices for the greater good. Honor is a commitment to live by these values, to act with integrity, and to make the right choices, even when unobserved. It's about maintaining ethical standards, being true to our word, and upholding our moral compass. Integrity is about unwavering honesty, owning our mistakes, and standing firm in our convictions, especially when faced with tough choices or unpopular stances. Personal Courage is about confronting fear, adversity, or danger with fortitude. It's about taking risks, facing challenges head-on, and advocating for justice, even when it means standing alone. These values, learned in the Army, are more than just guidelines—they're a way of life. As I transition from military to civilian life, I carry these principles forward, applying them to new challenges and opportunities.

“On top of that, the pay scale for instructors has been retooled so that pensions are not considered. Instead, pay takes into account location and education, among other factors -- meaning, in some cases, instructors could make more than in previous years.” Unfortunately, in high cost living areas, the pay has gone down dramatically. Across DoD, the new Senior instructor will be paid an equivalency of a GS-11 while the new junior instructors will be based on a GS-10 equivalency. In Los Angeles and Orange County, new instructors will start at a salary $20-30k less than the current instructors. Instructors will in many cases not be able to live near their job, instead commuting to find housing. Current instructors are grandfathered as long as they don’t move schools. Tough to recruit a 20 year O5 who will make the same GS-11 pay as a ten year non-retiree. Experienced instructors can’t afford to move to fill vacancies.

🎉 Celebrating 15 Years Since Leaving the Royal Artillery 🎉 Fifteen years ago today, I took a leap of faith, leaving behind 23 years (and 81 days) of service in the Royal Artillery. The camaraderie, the banter, the shared sense of purpose and belonging, I miss those deeply. There’s something special about the bonds you build in the Army, and it’s not easy to replace. But it’s been the adaptability I honed during those years that’s helped me transition to a new chapter, finding a different kind of fulfilment in further education. My journey from the military to education was sparked by a conversation with a Royal Marine who had made a similar move. His words stuck with me: "If I can do it, anyone can." That moment was the push I needed, and I’m forever grateful for the path it set me on. (The best bit is he doesn’t even know I followed his path)! 🙏 Since then, life has been a rollercoaster of learning, growth, and opportunities. From leading teams, working with some amazing people who go above beyond on a daily basis and preparing future Public Service professionals, each experience has taught me invaluable lessons. The leadership, planning (the 7 Ps!), resilience, and adaptability I developed in the Army has became the backbone of my work in further education. These transferable skills allowed me to steer complex projects, motivate teams, and hopefully make a small difference in the sector. A massive shout-out to my amazing wife, whose unwavering support has been my anchor through all these transitions. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her belief in me. 🙏👏 Now, as Managing Director of MNB Education Consultancy Ltd, I’m proud to apply these skills to help businesses and educational institutions navigate change and thrive. It’s a far cry from the world I left behind, but the sense of purpose remains—continuing to serve, just in a different way. To the colleagues, partners, and mentors who have been a part of this journey, thank you! Here’s to the next chapter of growth, innovation, and continuous improvement. 💪 #CareerAnniversary #Leadership #Adaptability #Veteran #RoyalArtillery #FurtherEducation #Consultancy #TransferableSkills #Resilience #MNBConsultancy

Bridging the Gap: Securing Post-Military Careers through Specialized Trade Education Read More: https://lnkd.in/eReivFi6 As we commemorate Invest in Veteran Week, it is vital to honor those who have served by facilitating a smoother transition into civilian lif...