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Military Career Tips

Step 10: You’re in! Make the best of it

Military Career Tips

You’re in! Make the best of it.

What happens after Basic Training? Do things get easier?

After Basic Training, you are given increased responsibility, and this includes developing your career. How should you proceed? Where should you go? The good news is that it’s up to you, and the bad news is that it’s up to you too!

After successfully completing Basic Training, you will be transformed, both physically and mentally, into a vital part of a highly effective team. Then, and only then, are you awarded the title of Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.

Depending on the service you have chosen, you will either move on from Basic Training to a new area to do your Trade Training, or you will continue your training in the same place.

Following your technical training you will be sent out to the field fully equipped and highly skilled to do your part in the British Armed Services. Where you are stationed is determined by your military specialty and the needs of the service.

Military Career Tips

1. Pay attention Remember, you are fresh out of basic, which means you have absolutely no idea what you are doing. When your first line supervisor tells you to do something that flies in the face of what you learned in basic, nod your head wisely and do what they tell you. What you learned in basic is all fine and good, but this is real life now and things may be done differently.

2. Educate yourself Free promotions stop once you finish basic. Unlike some civilian careers you will not get promoted just for spending a certain amount of time at your current level. You will need to show that you have the experience and training to be able to excel at the next level. Put yourself out to get any extra experience and training that is on offer. Remember that in many promotions you need to show that you are better than your peers.

3. Relax, but… Don’t forget you’re in the military now, not back at home. Unless you’re going on a deterrent patrol aboard a nuclear submarine, the military is essentially a 9-5 job. Except you don’t dare turn up late!

4. Keep your affairs in order The unit commanders can be very unforgiving to individuals who make their commands look bad. Stay out of debt, don’t drink and drive and don’t fight with the locals.

5. Motivation vs. Excessive Flattery There is a very fine line between being motivated and being a “yes-man”; don’t cross it. Doing your job and doing it well will prove that you’re motivated. Following the Sergeant around and volunteering for every detail that comes down from Battalion will prove that you’re a sycophant (polite term for an arse-kisser), only doing things to try to gain favour. Rest assured that your chain of command is capable of telling the difference between a solid worker and an actor.

6. The Rumour Mill You will quickly learn that military runs on rumours. Unfortunately, rumours are usually wrong, and can be deadly for morale. If you hear a rumour, take it for what it’s worth, not much! Since you don’t know the truth, don’t spread the rumour; and whatever you do, don’t let rumours mess with your head. Remember that rumours are about 10 percent truth and 90 percent fiction.

7. Not Like Me In Basic Training there were no individuals. You were forced to work as a team or suffer the consequences. After basic, unit cohesion is not automatic; you have to work at it. You already know that you can successfully work with people from all backgrounds and cultures. Don’t forget that. Don’t be a loner, and try to resist the temptation to associate and socialise only with people just like you. Also remember that you don’t have to like everyone (and you won’t), but you do have to find a way to work with them (and them with you).

8. No Excuses Never offer an excuse. Your commanding officer doesn’t want to hear your excuse unless they ask for it. Any reason you may offer will be treated as an excuse. Yes Sir/Yes Ma’am is always the best response.

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