Friendly advice to Veterans in the workplace

Let me start by saying as a foreigner living and working in this country, and I am incredibly grateful for what this country stands for. I understand the sacrifice that young soldiers have made for this country.

That being said - please lose the arrogance. You experience in the military does not mean anything to me in the workplace, and your arrogance shows. And I honestly don't care whatever background my coworkers come from - it's their day to day performance in the job that matters. Please don't act like you know more than me because you served in the military.

Also, if you were enlisted in the Navy/Air Force or stationed in the base in Japan/Korea - you didn't do anything that I respect. Props to you if you served as an Infantryman in the thick of combat though - I really respect that! - but again, it doesn't mean anything in the workplace as a junior analyst. Our job is to do office gruntwork, usually on Excel or PowerPoint, and your military experience does not make you any more qualified than someone like me straight out of college.

So do me a favor and forget what you did before you came to this job. Focus on the now without being hung up on the past.

Also - if you joined the military as a enlisted grunt after HS because you wanted to "serve your country!". That is a lie for 90% of people, and everyone knows it. You joined because you probably came from a poor family from bumblefuck Missouri and had no other talent - academic or athletic. If you did, you would have probably done that ROTC thing or gone to the West Point Academy.

End of rant.

Some stupid guy at work think he's better than the other Analysts because he spent 4 years doing god knows what on a USS [Insert Name] - I am guessing this dude was a janitor.

Also - does the Navy not have any physical fitness standards? Why are these ex-Navy guys so fat?

 
Myron Gainz:

You seem like a joy to be around. This guy most have really offended you to have your jimmies rustled so much. Relax boss, not something worth getting so worked up about.

Haha - yeah this guy really did.

What made me mad was the argument he made. Discussing ideas to solve a problem, and the literal argument was - "My idea is better because I am a veteran of the US miliary!"

WTF?

 
Best Response
snakeoil:

Haha - yeah this guy really did.

What made me mad was the argument he made. Discussing ideas to solve a problem, and the literal argument was - "My idea is better because I am a veteran of the US miliary!"

WTF?

Yea, that would frustrate me too. Just dig into his idea and not let him use his past "military" experience as the basis for why his idea is great. Or you can let him run with his idea, and when it fails miserably, let him learn from the experience.

I have had experience with people such as this. I do not see his previous background creating any advantage for why his idea will be most effective. Simply remind him of that and I think that will knock him down a peg or so.

 
snakeoil:

Haha - yeah this guy really did.

What made me mad was the argument he made. Discussing ideas to solve a problem, and the literal argument was - "My idea is better because I am a veteran of the US miliary!"

WTF?

Yea, that would frustrate me too. Just dig into his idea and not let him use his past "military" experience as the basis for why his idea is great. Or you can let him run with his idea, and when it fails miserably, let him learn from the experience.

I have had experience with people such as this. I do not see his previous background creating any advantage for why his idea will be most effective. Simply remind him of that and I think that will knock him down a peg or so.

 

This is pretty funny. I'm not in IB, but that's the plan so thanks for the heads up. I'll check any military ego at the door. I happen to be a Marine from "Bumblefuck Missouri." Don't let this experience get you down, man. Later in life you can do CrossFit, run marathons, do extreme sports, go mountain climbing, etc. to prove how hardcore you are and explain to all your buddies that you almost joined the military one time. :P

 

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