So You Want a Successful Military Career? Military success starts with a clear picture of where you want to go and why. If you don’t know the purpose of your path, you may never achieve the success you really desire in the military.
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Your military career doesn’t really start until you finish mbasic training. While this is a very important part of training and a necessary part, you should also be prepared for what happens next. Here are a few tips to help you move forward once you finish basic training.
Understand the Qualifications
If you want to be an officer, you need to understand what this requires. You may need a bachelor’s degree and a certain level of military training. Don’t get discouraged by the requirements. Instead, start with what you can do now and take it one step at a time.
After E-4, you will need additional training and education to move forward in the military. You want to study for qualification examples and start to stand out above your peers. If you don’t, you may never advance to the goal you’ve set for your military career.
Don’t be a Sycophant
A sycophant is basically a butt-kisser and not someone you want to be in the military. While it may seem like excessive flattery and doing all kinds of favors will get you ahead, it doesn’t really work that way in the military.
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Instead, you want to do your job and do it well. Being a solid worker will get you ahead much faster than just acting to appease your First Sergeant.
Remain Disciplined
Whether it’s listening and following the orders of a commanding officer or taking care of your personal finances, remain disciplined. Getting into debt can cause other issues and so can getting in trouble with the law. Drinking and driving won’t get you ahead and neither will bouncing checks.
You want to listen to what your CO tells you to do and do it. In addition, you want to work hard to keep your financial situation clean and your legal situation clean. Don’t get in trouble with the law and always make sure you have money in the bank to cover a check you write.
Rumors Kill Military Careers
If you want to watch your career become stagnant fast, become a part of the rumor mill. However, if you want to get ahead and continue to advance through the ranks, avoid gossip and rumors as much as possible.
If you hear a rumor, assume it’s not true and don’t repeat it. Allowing harmful rumors to die with you is the best way to ensure you don’t get blamed when the wrong person hears about the rumor.
You want to make sure you stay disciplined, continue your education and understand the direction you’re headed in, if you want a success military career. Most commanding officers are more than willing to help you get to where you want to go, but you have to do the hard work and keep your nose clean if you want to get there.