This Memorial Day, as we take a solemn moment to reflect on those who have served us and the price they have paid, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind employers of the tremendous skills and qualities our veterans bring to our businesses once they leave the military; specifically Junior Military Officers.
A Junior Military Officer (JMO) is typically someone who has spent 3-6 years in active duty as a commissioned officer in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines or Navy. These officers attended our prestigious Service Academies (West Point, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy), or earned their position via ROTC programs or an Officer Basic Course.
There are two important aspects everyone should understand when managing JMO’s that have transitioned from the military into our workforce.
- They should understand the unique skills JMO’s bring to the table from their experiences and training.
- They should understand the transition process and the challenges JMO’s face when acclimating to their private sector careers.
Unfortunately, unless we have taken part in specific training on the subject, we don’t serve this group of individuals, as we should. As a result, transitioned JMO’s experience a high rate of job changes over the first few years after they leave the military because they have difficulty fitting in and finding a place where they can properly utilize their skills. It is an unfortunate reality for the JMO, but also for the companies that lose the opportunity to incorporate these talented individuals into their workforce.
In honor of our service men and women, ManagingAmericans.com announces two new communities focused on helping Transitioning Junior Military Officers, as well as the Business individuals who manage them. We have gathered advice from several executives that have made the transition so that all of us can learn what we can do to succeed. We encourage you to go into our communities, read about the experiences of business executives that have made the transition, discuss stereotypes and opportunities for employers to consider.
We all owe it to our service men and women to make a special effort this Memorial Day and every day of the year. The more we understand their unique skill set, and their unique management requirements, the better our country’s businesses will fair. If you know of individuals in your company who can benefit from our resources, please pass this message to them. Below are some direct links to access resources on the ManagingAmericans.com site:
Managing Military Officers: Forum Advice, Resource Center, This Week’s Discussion, Focus On These Things To Succeed, Common Job Issues & Solutions
Transitioned Military Officer: Forum Advice, Resource Center, This Week’s Discussion, Focus On These Things To Succeed, Common Job Issues & Solutions
I hope this perspective is helpful to you in your day-to-day life. Test out these concepts and share your results with us. Others can benefit from your experiences. Good luck!
Written by Lisa Woods, President ManagingAmericans.com
Lisa is a successful entrepreneur, world-class marketing strategist, and dynamic business leader with more than 20 years experience leading, managing and driving growth. Throughout her career, Lisa has been influential in integration techniques, organizational and cultural overhauls, financial turnarounds and developing employees into exceptional leaders, results driven managers and passionate team contributors.
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