Veteran’s Day 2019: 3 Lessons I Learned in The Navy

On this Veteran’s Day week, I thought I’d do some reflecting on things I learned during my 15-year Navy experience that might be of interest to you, helping you be more effective in your role as The Boss or an HR professional.

A brief introduction.  In 1983, I joined the Navy in hopes of further growing my career as a dental laboratory technician.  I received a certification from a civilian trade school but didn’t have enough experience to find a job.  A recruiter promised me lab school after completing dental assisting school.  Of course promises from a military recruiter are never guaranteed.  Alas, there were no openings in the lab school so I spent a 15 year career as a dental assistant.  I never again worked on the inside of a dental lab.

Management Lesson #1:  Never promise anything you can’t actually guarantee.  Do this and you’re setting yourself up for a trust problem.  And, realize your broken promise can impact a person for many years to come.

After arriving at my first duty station, I worked for a terrible boss.  He was demeaning when he addressed me, personally and professionally.  This, on top of the other misery of not getting my “promised” lab school.  Fortunately, he transferred a few months after I arrived and his replacement was very different.  He took an interest in me and in my career development.  As a result, I started taking some college classes which eventually led me to set some higher goals for myself.  That boss, Greg Nelson, made all the difference in the world for me.  I had the privilege of interviewing him on episode #29 of The Boss Builder Podcast. 

Management Lesson #2:  Take an active interest in the career development of your people.  Your interest may be the first positive voice in their life.  You can positively impact them more than you know!

There are two paths you can take in the Navy.  The first one is:  Navy First.  Everything you do is in support of your naval career.  You take the right assignments, volunteer for the most impactful collateral duties, and play the game.  The reward is hopefully regular promotion. Do this, and you remain in the good graces of your command and good things will come to you.  Until you leave the Navy.

The other path is: Me First.  Now I know this sounds bad, but realize the “me first” doesn’t mean you are selfish or backstabbing.  It also doesn’t mean you underperform in your job.  You do the best you can while preparing yourself for the inevitable career transition you’ll have to make.

As I wound down my last few years in the Navy, I began preparing for that transition.  I finished my college degrees, started researching my intended career field, and began to network.  At no time did my work performance slip, but my focus was not on internal success.  I knew that six months after I left, nobody would remember anything I did while on active duty, just like the fact that six months before I came in, nobody had any idea who I was.  When my time ended, I hit the ground running. 

Management Lesson #3:  Take an active interest in your own career development.  Don’t rely on anyone to do it for you.  Think about where you want to be five, 10, and 20 years from now.  Get a plan together and stick with it.  Nobody cares as much about your career success as you should. 

So that’s it.  I must admit that when I left the Navy in 1999 I had a chip on my shoulder the size of the national debt.  Over time, that has changed some.  I remember a lot of the good times more clearly and the bad memories have ceased to govern me.  The attitudes of people toward veterans and active duty have changed too.  While I was largely ignored while in uniform, I, and most other vets today are greeted with smiles and the now more common “thank you for your service.”

So this Veteran’s Day, find a vet and ask them for the top three things they learned while serving.  You might be surprised and enlightened by what you hear.