Military experience as preparation for business and government leadership

¶ … military imparts in an individual many important qualities that they carry out into the real world. These qualities are leadership, versatility, character, among others. The military is an excellent place to learn, to grow, and to better one's self. Many people have had long and successful careers that they earned only through being in the military. It teaches a person the importance of hard work, communication, and bravery.

The military allows for transition into a multitude of careers, especially career in the government. And in sectors where leadership skills are rare and sought after, the military prepares one to establish a secure foothold in these areas. Non-for-profits, volunteer organizations, and businesses all require strong and fearless leaders with clear direction and focus. The military offers exactly what a person needs early on to achieve anything they set out for. Six sections will be examined to show just how military lessons can translate success in other careers.

I. Business executives and managers in large, medium, and small corporations

Big corporations need chief executive officers that offer outstanding capabilities and handle pressure with ease. Candidates with military experience meet the demands of large corporations and often with successful results because of their experience and drive. In an article written by Groysberg, Hill, & Johnson (2010), they state the weight of military leadership in their confidence of a leader. "In Gallup's annual poll asking Americans about their confidence in various public and private institutions, one has ranked first or second nearly every year since 1973, when the poll began, and has topped the list continuously since 1998: the military. In the 2009 poll, 82% of respondents expressed "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the military, whereas only 16% expressed confidence in big business" (Groysberg, Hill, & Johnson, 2010, p. 1). Americans have long since used military experience as a marker for quality leadership. In a study performed by Korn/Ferry International (2005) they explain that 9% of all CEOs and S&P firms have CEOs with prior military experience.

It is only logical that people assume a military background shows good leadership, especially if that background includes a position where the officer was a leader. The military requires of its people resilience, quick decisions, physical prowess, and most importantly, mental agility. In a high-stakes environment, people who serve the military learn to deal with hardship, stress, and build character, integrity. Not only do people with military background embody all those qualities, they also learn to work in teams and build a desire to succeed. How does these traits build a great CEO?

Business is a game of communication, understanding supply and demand, networking, and building a good rapport with others. People trained in the military have to learn from the beginning to deal with differing personalities and how to communicate effectively from the beginning. They learn new skills and build upon those skills through service and experience. Controlling their emotions and expressing themselves clearly become a foundation for successful business. Afterall, business does not involve emotion, but rather, structure; military officers often learn how to network and run a business by the skills they learn during training.

In fact, a lot of former officers use the time in the military to advance their education, since the government gives them a stipend and scholarship. They also learn the value of formality and order. Research indicates the military trains it officers through "process-driven approach to management; personnel are expected to follow standard procedures without any deviation. This allows the CMEs to excel in highly regulated industries and, perhaps surprisingly, in innovative sectors" CMEs (Construction Management Engineers) from the Army and Marine Corps adopt flexibility and allow people to act on their ideas. Korn/Ferry International (2005), report CMEs demonstrate success in small firms, where they have offer a clear direction to others and identify competent subordinates in order to complete tasks.

CEO's like Clayton Jones also note that military officers are offered early on, leadership roles. Whether it's performing duties or leading exercise drills, young people in the military quickly gather leadership experience. Whereas in a corporate world, it takes around five-to-ten years. "At a very young age, you get a chance to be in leadership positions of significant magnitude" (KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL, 2006, p. 3). The CEOs from the study identified the different traits that made them successful in business. These include:

learning how to work as part of a team; organizational skills, such as planning and effective use of resources; good communication skills; defining a goal and motivating others to follow it; a highly developed sense of ethics; and the ability to remain calm under pressure. (KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL, 2006, p. 3)

It's no wonder Chief executive officers with military experience have longer business careers, their performance often beats their competitors. "They boast a median tenure of five years and an average tenure of 7.2 years, compared to four years and 4.5 years for all S&P 500 CEOs." (KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL, 2006, p. 4)

II. Elected officials

From the likes of George Washington to Ulysses S. Grant to Dwight D. Eisenhower, military leaders since the birth of the nation have been recognized by Americans as great leaders that embed useful experience outside a military environment. As presidents of a nation these men prove that the military is a training ground for effective and strong leaders. Since the birth of the United States, leaders have had to deal with wars, political strife, and economic instability. Military training, military leadership often led the men mentioned, to continue during hard times and ultimately succeed in keeping a nation united.

George Washington, the first president of the United States, battled for years to earn America its independence from Great Britain. He not only was the military leader of the war, but also one of the founding fathers. If it were not for his extensive military background, he would not have had the ability to withstand the constant battles brought on by the British or lead his soldiers to victory. In a book written by Burns & Dunn, it states the kind of man Washington was: "A brave, disciplined, tenacious military leader" (Burns & Dunn, 2004, p. 18) Many political leaders of history had in some way or other military experience. Kings during the middle ages would be in the first line of an army ready to battle. And as a U.S. president, one of a president's main powers is commander and, to have the ability to control an army.

The 18th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant was the best Union general of the Civil War and the driving force for the Union's victory over the Confederacy. His war time efforts not only aided in the abolishment of slavery, it also secured him a position as the country's leader. In a book by Longacre, the author states how Vicksburg's surrendered ensured Lee's political career. "Vicksburg's surrender-coming as it did on the heels of Robert E. Lee's defeat at Gettysburg at the hands of Major General George Gordon Meade, ending Lee's sojourn in the North-gave the greatest possible boost to Grant's political career" (Longacre, 2006, p. 193)

The victory at Vicksburg gained the Union full control of the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy. This victory led to more Union triumphs like "the Battle of Chattanooga in late 1863" (Longacre, 2006, p. 210) and President Abraham Lincoln's appointment of Grant to lieutenant general and commander of all of the Union armies. Gaining the experience as commanding general of the army, Grant ensured the Union's ultimately victory and led the country to stability after the Civil War and during the chaotic times of the Reconstruction period soon after. Grant's foreign policy, spearheaded by Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, carried out International Arbitration, which resulted in the settlement of the Alabama Claims with Britain and helped to avoided war with Spain over the Virginius Affair. (Grant, In Moran, & United States, 1968, p. 177)

Dwight D. Eisenhower was the 34 thPresident of the United States spanning two terms from 1953 to 1961. His military background includes being a five-star general in the United States Army during World War II and his service as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. His military background gained him vital experience in planning and supervising in events such as the invasion of North Africa in Operation Torch in 1942 -- 43 and the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944 -- 45 from the Western Front. " In 1951, he became the first supreme commander of NATO" (Ambrose, 1983, p. 87).

Following his stint in the military, Eisenhower also became president of Columbia University. His leadership skills imbued much need direction in the university and later translated in his presidency with the "space race" and his successful attempt at preventing the spread of Communism in poorer countries, he left a legacy of achievement. Political leaders often need to prove themselves in a military setting in order to show the country, the world, their capabilities. Most elected officials, especially presidents see military experience, military leadership as a stepping ground to political success. If it were not for the military experience acquired by these former presidents, they perhaps would have not led such triumphant lives.

III. Government/civil service managers

Managers in government and civil service sectors can benefit from possessing military leadership experience. Just like with CEOs, government managers must deal with a wide array of situations and learn to function well in a team dynamic. Having a military background not only enables a person seeking such position to be a strong leader, but also to work well with others. Military training forces an individual to follow strict guidelines and see themselves as part of a unit rather than an individual. It also imbues them with discipline and the ability to obey orders.

Managing a government program for instance, requires people who gain this position to follow orders from higher ups and carry out instructions in a precise and timely manner. Having people who are used to carrying out orders effectively lends for minimal incidents of incompetency. It is only natural for someone who worked for the military, an extension of the government, to continue working for the government. Many protocols carried in the military can be applied as a government manager.

Character is often gained from military experience. This same character can be applied to the role of a civil service manager. Often times the types of managers have to deal with annual budgets and the need to choose proper staff to not only administer the budget but fulfill a quote often set as part of their job duties. An example of this is the U.S. Department of State. Duties related to a position there include improvement of trade opportunities for U.S. businesses, assisting American couples adopt children from overseas, and monitoring human rights issues.

People with military backgrounds are not only accustomed to dealing with international affairs, but are also accustomed to overseeing a variety of operations from intelligence gathering to medical training. They more than qualify for management positions. Another pre-requisite that civil service managers need is a clean criminal record and experience within the government. Working in the military gives one the experience and instills confidence in those seeking to fill aforementioned positions in knowing the person they hire has a clean record.

Military leadership offers a wide array of skills such as fiscal management and contract procurement which are some of the possible responsibilities of a government manager. Some military personnel in countries like Iraq, are taught to procure contracts with companies in order to sell or acquire weaponry. These negotiations along with the communication involved allows for much needed experience that would benefit any civil service or government department.

Along with those responsibilities comes administration of products and services as explained by the National Learning Corporation (2006), "Manage, supervise, administer, advise on, or deliver human resources management products or services, including specialty areas of focus such as: Information Systems, Military, Classification, Compensation, Recruitment and/or Placement, Employee Benefits, Human Resource Development, Performance Management, Labor Relations and Employee Relations. (National Learning Corporation, 1996, p. 44) The position also requires at times, evaluations of the effectiveness of department programs and extensive knowledge of these programs/agencies.

Former military officials possess extensive knowledge on a lot of government-based agencies and programs. They also possess knowledge in government missions and foreign policy. In fact military experience is an excellent stepping stone into a long-term civil service job. Many civil service managers are veterans and have experienced in one way or another a leadership role during their time in the military.

Overall it is very useful to have prior military experience when seeking government management position. It instills a person with confidence, valued experience, and knowledge useful to carrying out tasks in a sector they are already familiar with. It makes sense to take on a role that is made for someone who worked for the government.Time and time again, military leaders make excellent government leaders, including in the management field. (Schofield & United States, 1931, p. 89)

V. Volunteer organizations

Volunteering in the community comes naturally to some military personnel. Some of the lessons learned from work in the military can help people seeking to volunteer. These lessons include teamwork, a strong work ethic, and adaptability. As a volunteer, many job duties are often spur of the moment and involve a lot of effort doing various things. Having the discipline that comes from a military background will help a potential volunteers navigate the responsibilities set forth by volunteer organizations.

As many people known, people coming from the military are usually young and healthy. They have the vitality and energy to perform tasks needed for volunteering. Most military installations also provide their recruits with career guidance. This may include self-assessment tools and financial support, making volunteering easier. Everyone knows people need money to survive in modern society. Government stipends allow for military personnel to volunteer their time without fearing financial instability.

Volunteering, just like military experience, provides a multitude of opportunities to excel. (Rondeau, 2002, p. 27) Learning new skills, building and maintaining a professional network, are just a few of the advantages. And those who recently left the military and looking for a transition in between careers, often use volunteering as a means to find later on, a paid position. Experience gained as a volunteer aids in the search for paid employment.

Volunteers often need self-confidence and a positive attitude when being interviewed. The military instills in its participants a sense of confidence, especially in communicating, that helps any makes them appear competent and self-assured. Volunteer organizations need strong minded individuals who are capable and ready to handle the many duties of a volunteer. (Kipps, 1984, p. 36) They also need people who can take on leadership roles and carry out tasks smoothly. Leadership and initiative are important and sought-after qualities in volunteers.

Volunteer Organizations often have a budget when performing operations and need people who can gain funding. Military experiences sometimes include funds seeking. A study by Martinez and McMullin (2004), found that certain actions and characteristics motivated members and non-members of volunteer organizations. From their abstract: "We found the determining factors in decisions regarding volunteer activity were competing commitments and efficacy. Active members indicated that the efficacy of their actions was most important in their decision to participate, whereas inactive members cited the importance of competing commitments in their decision not to participate." (Martinez & McMullin, 2004, p. 112) This study offers clarity in the motivation behind volunteer organizations and the possible benefit military experience can offer.

Another thing to consider useful from a military background is the ingrained discipline that follows from extensive military training. Soldiers and medical staff, etc., work hard while in the military to keep each other motivated and at some points, alive. They have to overcome tough obstacles in order to achieve mission objectives. This helps keep them resilient and able to deal with high stress situations.

Most volunteer situations involve high stress. The Red Cross for instance, has volunteers who sometimes have to aid people who have lost their homes and are severely injured and/or deprived of basic necessities. Military experience often includes dealing with such instances and teaches people who deal with it, self sufficiency and desire to help others. Afterall, the foundation of any volunteer work is the desire to be of service and help others.

Those qualities are often instilled in military personnel. They later take these lessons and apply them to their everyday life. Military leadership is a much sought after skill. Volunteer organizations need strong leaders. Without much funding, they cannot train their own and seek those who already possess such skills.

VI. Entrepreneurial businesses

To be an entrepreneur one has to be self-motivated and driven to succeed. Many people agree military leadership offers people leaving the military the confidence, direction, and skills needed to pursue and start their own successful business. An article by Ohngren (2011), examines the life of U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal and how his prior military experience led him to generate a successful company. The author retells of his abilities as a good leader to assemble a core team of trustworthy people who had faith in his vision and how he was able to translate that into business. "Entrepreneurs can learn from McChrystal's skillful tactics -- recruiting a dedicated team is the keystone to becoming a successful leader. It turns out, many valued military talents transfer well to guiding a team through the ups and downs of launching and growing a business" (Ohngren, 2011, p. 1).

A blog post also cites another successful entrepreneur as having military experience helped him in forming his company. Dave Gowel, a former Army Ranger shares his five thoughts on how military leaders can benefit from an entrepreneurial environment and they include:

"Emotional control in stressful situations. Overreacting to a bad situation can keep you from making good decisions during that critical time.

A focus on the team, not on your own rank. The General Officers I'd still follow into battle today are those who used their rank to support their troops; not the other way around.

Knowing your limits and pushing them, but not going too far. Entrepreneurial egos often include the desire to be a hero.

No fear of failure. In the military, certainty about anything is a rare luxury in battlefield decisions.

Strong ethical convictions. A moral compass is essential when you have absolute authority in a situation that could have life-or-death outcomes"(Gowel, 2012, p. 1)

Military leaders often are required to possess many skills. They also are required to have strong direction and clear thought process and delivery. These are all important skills to have when starting a business. A concise vision of what the entrepreneur wants is key in actualizing the scope and mission of any startup. Excellent communication skills are also important to convey what is needed in the business and to form a network.

A second article on another CEO of his own start up relays how his achievements can be traced back to the military. "Kopser, 42, who retired from the military last week, is now the CEO and co-founder of an Austin, Tex. start-up called RideScout -- a smartphone application that aggregates all of a user's potential ground transportation options in real time, everything from buses and Zipcar to rideshare options with friends or strangers. " (Murphy, 2013, p. 1) He examines the role the military played in not only his abilities as a leader, but also the confidence he gained from his experiences. He felt secure in his decisions to start his company. Most of all the military provided him with a clear purpose and never-ending drive.

Lastly, a journal article on entrepreneurship discusses what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Some of which are: "To be inspirational, these individuals must be able to present ideas, concepts, and beliefs that others find interesting, intriguing, or stimulating."(Cunningham & Lischeron, 1991, p. 45) Overall it takes a lot of motivation, desire and determination to attempt a start up. There is lots of risk involved with sometimes little pay off. It takes a clear head and a strong will to continue the hard work needed to make it a success.

The military offers many situations where people can learn to be leaders. It offers incentives to continue their education. It also teaches them to deal with high stress situations. It is the best environment to learn to be a strong leader.

Strong leadership is a given if one wants to be a successful entrepreneur. Without it, there will not be enough steam to keep the engine going. Smart decisions, especially on teams and scope will make or break a budding business. Military experience propels a person to not only be a better person, but also a better leader.

Conclusion

It has been proven time and time again that military training is some of the best training out there. People who go in, often go in clueless and directionless. When they emerge, they come out focused and ready to pursue their goals. These goals sometimes lead to long-term CEO positions or even two term presidencies. Determination, excellent communication, and drive, those are all qualities of the military and even, a great leader.