In what industry are both white collar and blue collar managers and leaders trained for each level of promotion? In the military. In the military services, NCO’s and officers receive training for each level of promotion. For decades, the U.S. military has required attendance and graduation from schools designed to train leaders at every rank. This has resulted in a professional, competent work force.

Young lieutenants in the Infantry Officer Basic Course role plays various counseling situations. They emerge, not as qualified counselors. But, they know enough to listen to soldiers with dire needs. As we often say in the Army, “In the Army, we are in the people business.” That is our way of explaining that we focus on our most important inventory, the men and women who make up our forces.

Study

Yet, a recent study by the Duke University Fuqua School of Business shows many employers in the U.S. see military veterans as a poor fit for emotional social jobs. In one study, conducted in the restaurant industry, employers rated military veterans as much more suitable for low feeling positions, such as dish washers and prep cooks than for servers. See Army Times report here.

That is ironic since every Sergeant has graduated from at least one NCO leadership school which typically last 4-8 weeks, in addition to the experience of leading and managing men and women in garrison and in combat.

Iraq

I could write a book on the combat experience. But, I can say that there is no greater pressure cooker than a combat zone. In a war zone, every decision, no matter how trivial, presents life or death consequences. Stress is never greater. Leadership ability, including the simple ability to work well with others, is at a premium. I wondered, when I was in Iraq sometimes, about the Morale, Welfare, Recreation Centers. At the MWR center, a soldier could check out a movie or read a book. Would it set someone off if their favorite move was not available? In a war zone, everyone needs to be performing his/her job at top efficiency.

U.S. employers do not appreciate the sort of training we have had in the military. In my lawsuits, I often encounter businesses that provide no training for its mid-level managers. None. I find that simply astounding. Don’t you know that a young Sergeant with a couple of tours in Iraq could handle a busy night at a popular restaurant?