Mike Brantley, Ed.D, PHR’s Post

Service member issues and social media. PART 2 1. Performing your job and duties in inclement weather as a justification to exit the service. Below is a quote from a fellow Special Forces Soldier that sums the argument that we must be comfortable with being uncomfortable. "Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about how hard it is, he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home. He knows only The Cause." a. If you can’t handle the minor stress incoluations of conventional military training, you are opening up yourself, and others to high risk in the event that you are exposed to a kinetic environment. Let’s be honest with overseas, you are probably not going to handle daily (non-military) life stressers as well and are most likely in the wrong line of work. Does the extreme hot,cold, and wet environments suck, absolutely. But the pain and being uncomfortable doesn’t last forever. b. I’m gonna plagiarize from our SEAL brother Demo Dick, the less you bleedth in training, the less you bleedth in war. Meaning, train how fight, fight to win.

Service member issues and social media. PART 1 I’ve been putting this reply off to gather some intellectual arguments that mitigate my personal bias due to my experience. However, I think it’s worthy of tossing that in at the end as well. I’m not here to debate for or against the use of social media with respects to our service members voicing their complaints. Let’s face reality, the newer generations are social media influenced and the domain isn’t going away. Therefore, we must navigate ways to handle or throttle the use of platforms and especially exploit them. I don’t think we, the older generation are experts in the exploitation phase of social media compared to those who are in our charge. Secondly, I think any organizational leader should listen to ALL complaints where you agree or disagree them. A good command climate (work environment) must also exist where employees have a mechanism to voice compliants, propose ideas, and be incorporated in to the information/feedback loop. If a mechanism doesn’t exist, your employees will find an outlet of expression (social media). Let’s address some complaints here; your feedback is welcomed and encouraged. 1. The military doesn’t pay well. a. With the national wage index in 2022 of ~$63, it’s hard to counter this argument…if you don’t have the additional factors. I will say that it is a positive fact that the younger generation is conducting a comparative analysis between different job markets. As service members/veterans , let’s further the education piece to better inform them! The 2024 military pay chart ONLY includes base pay (https://lnkd.in/e-Gz-u-6). b. I’ll use my personal case as an example. According to the pay chart, my rough annual income is $96k. However, the hidden part that the younger generation and civilian sector don’t see are the other pays and allowances (housing, food, travel, proficiency pay, various other deployment and hardship pays). Factoring in the other pays and allowances my income jumps upwards to $130k. Realizing that this is not Officer pay which is strikingly higher and took me over 25 years to obtain, still not a bad salary. Let’s also toss in free health care. What are your monthly health care premiums? c. Let’s also examine the performance to pay relationship. If you are highly qualified to exceptional in your career field, you can expect a steady rise in pay over time. If you reside in the normal realm of performance and only do what is required without taking initiative, then you can expect your pay raise to be behind your peers. Lets be honest, those who fall behind, or only do what’s expected will most likely separate from the service anyways. Mike Robinson

Serivce member issues and social media. PART 3 1. I have no freedom in the military (not my words). a. Let’s be transparent and honest, yes the military has its own set of laws, rules, regulations, and policies. Our operations, actions, and initiatives may be tactical(locally) executed, but most of strategic(transregional and global) affects. Therefore, the Services must maintain a higher standard of morales, values, and rules (laws) than our civilian counterparts. There CAN be a perception that this imposes more restraints on service members. However, let’s take another perspective. Using Jocko as a source, “discipline equals freedom”. What does that mean to me? It means that the more discipline, initiative and intestinal fortitude that someone displays, the less micro-management is placed upon them. Boundaries and rules still exist! This allows organizational leaders to trust in their subordinates while fostering critical thinking, which allows younger organizational members the flexibility to solve problems own their own while meeting objectives. b. Secondly, your level of maturity and performance will directly affect your freedom. Case in point; On the military’s dime (due to operational requirements) I’ve been to Dubai, South Korea, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Spain, Bulgaria, Belgium, Panama and had the opportunity to interact with Senior members from partner nations, the USGOV, and developed long lasting friendships. My most memorable experiences have been visiting Dachau, Aushwitz (twice), the Nuremberg Trail courtroom, the Ardennes Forest and various other historical sights. Discipline Equals Freedom!

The Army's training philosophy, "train like we fight," can be applied to the professional world too. By following a process every time, even creating one if necessary, and improving it if it doesn't work, we can make it second nature. Remember, practice doesn't make perfect, because perfect doesn’t exist. Practice makes us more potent, efficient, and effective. #trainlikewefight #processimprovement #progressnotperfection

Doctrine for the sake of doctrine is boring Doctrine as a principle set of rules that you can apply creatively against your opponent is how you get results.

What is your why for serving? In this video, Major General Carruthers (Assistant Adjutant General, Commander of the Florida Army National Guard) takes the time to explain why he continues to serve in the Florida Army National Guard. We would love to hear your why, so feel free to share it in the comments! #whyIjoined #whyiserve #armynationalguard

Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. We often hear inspiring stories like that of AF Tech Sgt. John Chapman, whose heroic actions serve as a testament to the qualities inherent in veterans. I had the privilege of working alongside a veteran from the 10th Mountain Division, whose bravery earned him a medal. Reflecting on his experiences, he vividly recalls the perilous situations they faced and the morale-boosting sight of US air support overhead. Stories like these underscore the invaluable contribution veterans can make to your organization. In times of adversity, veterans demonstrate unwavering dedication and selflessness. John Chapman's actions weren't driven by personal gain or recognition but by a profound sense of duty to his comrades. Imagine having someone of such caliber within your organization—someone who prioritizes loyalty and teamwork, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration. The qualities exhibited on the battlefield seamlessly transition to the workplace. Veterans bring a unique blend of leadership, resilience, and adaptability—qualities essential for navigating today's economic landscape. Hiring a veteran isn't just about fulfilling a need; it's about tapping into a wealth of skills and experiences that can drive your organization's success. As we honor the sacrifices of John Chapman, let's also acknowledge the family he left behind. Their unwavering support and sacrifices deserve recognition too.

What a great picture to capture the heart of a courageous warrior. I'm struck by John Chapman's subtle smile and peaceful resolve. This picture reminds me that we in the military can often mistake being tough with being hard. Hardness is easy. It's cold, impersonal, invulnerable and results in disconnectedness. We're tempted to justify hardness when the mission or task is difficult, or when we may or may not necessarily agree with the desired outcome. Put on the blinders, separate the heart from the action, do the task, live for another day. Toughness is connection based (both connected to self and/or a team) and requires selflessness and discipline. Tough, courageous warriors have tenacity, grit, determination, professionalism and most importantly: HUMILITY. I've known plenty of tough people with gentle hearts. Toughness leaves room for the heart to stay connected to your hands and mind. TSgt John Chapman's tenacity, grit and professionalism were on display at the top of Takur Ghar, but his humility, heart and selfless desire to serve brought him to the top of that mountain. I'm not sure you can capture the heart of a tough and selfless warrior any better than this photo of him humbly and gently holding an Afghan baby.

“New” segments = new sales in 2024, especially if you don’t see AT LEAST 10 consumer segments in this picture! Yes, this is a picture of my Army [poor life choice] brother and I in Afghanistan. So there’s 4 segments: 1 & 2 - Army & Navy active duty members 3 & 4 - Army & Navy veterans (we both left active service) We were both married (and still are)…so 2 more: 5. Army Officer Wives 6. Navy Officer Wives Since this picture was taken during a deployment…there’s another 6!!! 7 & 8 - Army and Navy Officers currently deployed 9 & 10 - Wives of deployed Army and Navy Officers Marketing and/or sales teams should not see just “military” in this, or any military-related content(…unless you personally like generic, low ROI strategies and content) *Bonus - don’t forget Detroit Red Wing fans*

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