A Boomer’s Perspective on Millennials in the Military

John Aldrich, US Navy

(AMU Students, alumni, faculty & staff participating in Wreaths Across America December 13, 2014 at Arlington National Ceremony)

As a baby boomer, I tend to sit on the fence regarding my views on millennials, but as one who is also only three years shy of being a Gen X-er, I tend to move easily between the two generations of thought. For example, I generally take a more heterogeneous view on social and cultural diversity, whereas boomers, especially those born shortly after WWII, tend to have a more homogeneous perspective. I realize that this is the type of stereotyping that goes hand in hand with most generational biases, and someone out there is already disagreeing with me, but that’s okay. Such differences are one of the many things that make our country great.

The majority of today’s active-duty forces and veterans are products of the millennial generation, shaped by their environment and combined social experiences. For example, millennials have experienced the bombing of the World Trade Center, over 10 years of war in the Middle East, the housing and banking bubble, and the Great Recession.

There are numerous opinions on millennials in the military, ranging from their obsession with social media to their liberal political views. Like their civilian counterparts, they are often described as a lazy, self-centered, and privileged generation. In the workplace, millennials are often portrayed as putting in the bare minimum of hours, and driven by the self-absorbed notion that they should be promoted overnight. I work with numerous millennials, some of whom have served, and couldn’t find this sentiment to be further from the truth. My experience is that they are actively engaged in meaningful social causes and are typically among the first at work to contribute their free time and money toward a worthy cause. One could also argue that being strapped with the nation’s debt created by past generations or being subject to a retirement system dependent on the whims of today’s financial markets isn’t “privileged” at all.

What is clear, whether you are talking about the Greatest Generation, Boomers, Gen X-ers, the Net-Generation, or Millennials, is that they all share a love of country. Millennials are no different.

I have the honor of visiting veterans and servicemembers throughout the country, and with each encounter, I leave with a great sense of pride about the young men and women from this generation. Millennials join the service for many of the same reasons as others before them: to seek adventure, grow up, get a job, serve others, and satisfy a deep sense of patriotism, especially for those who joined after 9/11. This is no different than those from the Greatest Generation flocking to recruiting centers after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They felt a patriotic duty to join.

The future for millennials in the military is as bright as that of any preceding generation. Women are breaking barriers by joining the exclusive military communities of Navy Submariners and Army Rangers, and, as the first digital natives, millennials are perfect candidates to combat the growing threat of cybercrime. 

Millennials question authority more than generations of the past, and texting and engaging on social media comes naturally, but no one should doubt that this generation is any less patriotic than previous ones. The heroic stories of self-sacrifice by this generation on the battlefield and the endearing sense of optimism by those millennials wounded in recent wars are humbling. One need look no further than the heroism and selfless sacrifice of three servicemembers who recently stopped a terrorist gunman from killing and injuring countless people on a train in France.

As our country prepares for this Veterans Day, we not only take time to reflect and honor the accomplishments and sacrifices of those who came before us, but to also recognize today’s servicemembers and veterans. No matter how you choose to spend this holiday, one thing is for certain, we can all sleep at night knowing that we are still in good hands.

About the Author

John Aldrich is Vice President of Military, Veterans & Community College Relations at American Military University (http://rly.pt/amu-b-3) where military and veterans of many generations attend to further their educational goals and help transition to civilian life.

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Frustrated with Traditional Medical Innovation, Marine Corps Veteran Becomes Unlikely Entrepreneur

CPT Cameron Smith, ARMY

Derek Herrera has the quintessential passion of an entrepreneur. He wants to solve problems quickly and efficiently. However, the Marine Corps Veteran never intended to be out of uniform and on his own entrepreneurial journey.

But, on a deployment to Afghanistan in 2012, Herrera was hit by an enemy bullet and instantly paralyzed from the chest down. He was evacuated from the combat zone and during his rehabilitation journey; he was inspired to create his own company, Spinal Singularity.

Through researching his own injury and being a patient in several clinical studies, Herrera quickly became frustrated with the long, drawn-out process of medical innovation. The academic and medical community seemed to focus on scientific advancement, but Herrera wanted practical solutions to the real-life issues he and others faced. And, he didn’t want to wait several years.

So, Herrera took action. Shortly after medically retiring from the military, he began his MBA course work from UCLA and started the process of building a team to tackle problems associated with spinal cord injuries. He cold-called medical experts, engineers, and doctors in search of partners and learned as much as he could about the industry.

In 2014, Herrera was also able to attend the Patriot Boot Camp in New York City. This intensive three-day conference was aimed at helping Veterans create technology start-ups. Here, Herrera was exposed to the world of entrepreneurship and met mentors and experts that helped him go on to start Spinal Singularity.

Currently, Spinal Singularity is working on launching its first product that helps people with neurogenic bladder, a condition often associated with spinal cord injuries that results in the inability to sense a full bladder or control the release of urine. The product is called the Connected Catheter and it uses smart technology to alert a person when their bladder is full and eliminates the need for traditional catheters.

The Connect Catheter provides the life changing, innovative medical solutions that Herrera was inspired to create. Before this product, a person with neurogenic bladder had to insert traditional, intermittent catheters 5-10 times per day in order to relive the bladder. Now, rather than using over 200 catheters a month, the Connected Catheter can be easily inserted and remain for 30 days creating a less painful and frustrating process. It will greatly enhance a person’s quality of life.

Herrera is also working fast. He has launched a crowd-funding campaign aimed to get the Connected Catheter out of development and helping people as quickly as possible. The campaign has already reached 45% funding.

While Herrera never planned on being an entrepreneur, his personal experience and desire to solve painful problems propelled him on the unexpected journey. He’s embraced his new role and is working tirelessly to ensure that the Connected Catheter improves people’s quality of life.

To learn more and support the crowdfunding campaign, go here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-connected-catheter-by-spinal-singularity#/story

If you’re a Veteran interested in technology start-ups, check out the Patriot Boot Camp.

Author: Cameron Smith is an Army Officer who recently took the leap into full-time entrepreneurship.

Read more Command Posts, here!

A Thoroughfare for Freedom: The 2015 Road Warrior Ride

SrA Andy Mccarty, USAF

In the crisp dawn air on June 6th, 2015, I found myself gearing up for another mission. I checked and rechecked my gear. Was everything strapped down? Could I easily reach and manipulate the controls? I went over the plan with the guy in charge and shared that plan with the guy following me. After a short delay, our convoy began to move out, alert and excited for the challenge ahead.

Far from the dangers of a combat zone, our team was setting out to navigate the country roads of New England. Day Two of the 2015 Road Warrior Ride, a cross-country motorcycle trip for severely wounded veterans, began with the rumble of 20 Can-Am Spyders. My colleague and fellow veteran, Rob Foster, and I took up the rear on our cruisers.  Together we formed a living chain that stretched for hundreds of feet like the backbone of a mythological dragon, which is exactly how some of the other motorists treated us along the way.

As the Director of Veteran and Military Services at Northeastern University, I have enjoyed limitless backing in my support of servicemembers and veterans, both on and off campus. My leadership encourages me to be a force for good in the community. Despite the somewhat unorthodox nature of this particular venture, they didn’t balk when I pitched the idea of supporting a cross-country motorcycle trip. Instead, they sent us off to represent our institution and the commitment we have for veterans. Both of us were beyond honored to go.

The Road Warrior Foundation is the brainchild of LtCol (Select) Craig Anders and Air Force veteran Steve Berger. They saw a gap in the services provided to injured veterans, one they decided to fill using their own brand of “adventure therapy.” Riding cross-country poses a challenge of endurance to anyone, injured or not, and it was exactly that challenge these eight wounded veterans had sought out; they relished the opportunity to prove that limitations are self-imposed. Adapt and overcome!

The ride to New York that day took around nine hours. This was one of the longer days of riding I had done since I started six years ago. Rob had learned how to ride only days before, so this was a true baptism by fire for him. That was especially true as the Can-Ams went into tight curves at 60mph, assured by their high-tech traction and stability controls. For those of us with only two wheels, it was scary at times. I spent a good portion of the ride with my heart in my throat which, if you’re wondering, is not where God put it.

When not busy contemplating my death or dismemberment, I was having the time of my life. I was witness to a whole group of people discovering a love of the open road. There is a flavor of life not tasted by those in cars or trucks. With no cage to protect you, you place your trust in nature and the road stretched out before you. In return, both open themselves to you and reveal a side unseen by most.

The center line divides your thoughts. The mountains stand like an ancient chorus poised in grandeur to sing their verses of solitude. The wise, old hills listen as your silent heart pours out its contents. The details of your life float away as dandelions scattered by the wind to be swallowed by rolling, emerald pastures. And as you ride through a countryside that exudes life, you can’t help but to get some on you.

It is precisely this sense of freedom and peace that draws so many into the saddle. Two-wheeled therapy has provided decades of treatment to veterans. Unfortunately, regular cruisers require the use of one’s feet/legs in order to shift gears, brake, and stabilize the vehicle at stops. The Can-Am Spyder, however, provides an automatic engine, hand brakes, and a third wheel. The generosity of Can-Am’s parent company BRP to donate the vehicles made this ride possible for veterans who had lost the use of one or both legs. For the lone female veteran on the ride, who had lost her vision from a virus contracted in Iraq, the Spyder allowed her to sit back and relax with a friend at the controls.

Our destination that day was Bear Mountain State Park, and our group arrived to a performance from the Nassau County Firefighters’ Pipes and Drums playing America the Beautiful. Their misty-eyed drum major stood at attention and held a salute as each one of us rolled past. It was at Bear Mountain over a barbeque spread and cold beverages that we really started getting to know the veterans we were there to support. They were family men, artists, athletes, and business leaders. There was Patrick, the heartthrob of the group, with his quick wit and southern drawl. Chewy, who looked like a brooding Mexican-American with a long, dark beard, was instead a warm and gentle soul with an inviting laugh. Big Mike would stand at six feet-eleven inches if he weren’t confined to a wheel chair; he slung jokes like it was his job. Though she can no longer see it, I hope Kathy never forgets what her beautiful smile looks like. Michael P. was unassuming and quiet despite being an accomplished adaptive sport athlete and non-profit entrepreneur. These and the other veterans each added their unique spice to the mix, and it soon felt a lot like a family barbeque.

We joined the Road Warriors again days later in Asheville, North Carolina and hosted a reception for them at the Twin Leaf Brewery. Locals had heard about the ride on the radio and came out to wave large American flags and cheer at their arrival. One more random city in America was able to show its gratitude for their service, and Northeastern University was proud to make it possible in yet another state.

That was our final evening with the 2015 Road Warriors. It lasted well into the night, and the conversations grew more descriptive and trusting. Injuries were explained. Recovery challenges were detailed. Such raw honesty was familiar from my own time in the service, and I missed it. In many ways, it was refreshing. Among civilians, we have to mind what we say and how we say it. There are things we shouldn’t say and things we simply cannot. Talking with Road Warriors like Big Mike brought me back to a time when that wasn’t a concern. We were all brothers, and we could tell each other anything.

Rob and I will never forget our time out on the road with this awesome group of veterans. There are so many ways to heal, and adventure therapy provides a fantastic alternative to the over-medication that’s grown all too common.  We certainly hope that more organizations will see the value in supporting the Road Warrior Foundation as NU has done.  Those who serve inevitably change, and we owe them the opportunity to rediscover themselves as they explore the great country they fought to defend.

Read more Command Posts, here!

The Kids Are Back in School, Why Aren’t You?

SGT Shontae Patsaricas, US ARMY

(Image provided by American Military University)

Summer is over and the kids are back in school. Is the timing right for you too? Whether you’re a military spouse, currently serving or a veteran—many military parents take advantage of this newfound time to focus on individual goals when school is back in session. For many, completing a degree implies more opportunities. Based on my career serving as a former senior admissions representative, recently promoted to Veteran Liaison, serving American Military University (AMU) students, there are five guidelines I’ve defined for students looking to return back to school.

Make your education fit into your hectic schedule

Time management is a key component to success as a student, online or traditional. Since most online learning is asynchronous, students have the option of fitting education into their schedule. This means you can learn 24/7 using your mobile device or computer and complete your weekly assignments based on a schedule you choose that fits your busy life. This enables you to log in to complete your classroom discussions, writing assignments, and tests at your optimal time of day. This flexibility is incredibly empowering whether you’re an on-the-go spouse or deployed military.

Maximize military experience for additional credits

No matter where you decide to attend, be sure that the school offers military transcript evaluations. I encourage you to work with your college advisors to explore all of your options. AMU provides and Transfer Credit Evaluation and Prior Learning Assessment programs to help you get the credit you’ve earned through your military training, job experience, or other learning outside of the traditional classroom. You can also optimize your credits by choosing a program that closely relates to your military background like criminal justice, cybersecurity (IT), intelligence studies or homeland security, among many others options.

Educate yourself on your financial aid options

There are many options to choose from including military Tuition Assistance (if Active Duty, Guard, or Reserve), Veteran’s Benefits, Federal Student Aid, Employer Benefits, as well as self-pay. It’s important that you work with a respected, affordable university that understands military life so that you’re able to maximize the benefits you and your family have earned.

Find and connect with other military-community students while you study

Social media communities are a great way to connect with fellow students online. These groups are a great way to see motivational student success stories, school announcements, and are an open environment to ask questions and get feedback from students and alumni. AMU has a major presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and RallyPoint – just to name a few. We utilize these channels to connect with our students at a deeper level, and find it’s a great way to communicate with them. If you’re currently serving, you can locate one of our many Military Outreach Representatives near your local military installation. Don’t be afraid to network because there are many people out there who are eager to help you with your educational goals.

You’ll always have a strong support network.

Get Started

Research the programs that are of interest to you. Every school has their own set of requirements, and you’ll want to make sure that it’s accredited. Also ensure that they have accommodating features to your military career, and shift in priorities. If you’re ready to take the next step with AMU, I invite you to contact me or a member our helpful admissions team at 1-877-777-9081. You can also apply now online here.

There is no better time than today to think about your educational goals and what school would be a good fit for you. Whether you are state-side, currently deployed, or transitioning to your post-military career, know that there are options available if you’re serious about seeking a degree and a peer community online.  

If you have any specific questions, please comment here.

Design Your Exit Strategy Before You Submit Your Resignation from the Military

CPT Endre Barath, US ARMY

Design your exit strategy, or should I say your transition strategy, from the military to the civilian world. This is advice from someone who has discovered that the transition from the military to entrepreneurship is one of the most challenging and difficult journeys one can take, especially if there is lack of research, lack of knowledge and just a misplaced cocky attitude.

An exit plan should be addressed as early as possible, because transitioning from a military career to the civilian world is not as easy as most people imagine. For example, I left the military in 1983 as a young Airborne Ranger Infantry Captain and thought that I would be welcomed with open arms and have the civilian world in the palm of my hands.

There were many opportunities that I chose not to take. One of which was to enter the shadow world of the State Department and some of its subsidiary companies, i.e. their semi-civilian corporations. I did not reach out to the Military Industrial Sector, nor did I choose to go back home to become a fireman or a police officer. These were all good choices and opportunities that I did not pursue. Keep in mind that once you close these doors, there are no second chances.

Instead I went to a high-powered New York City recruiter for one of the largest head hunter companies of the time.  He, in turn, looked at my resume and said that Infantry Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Acting Company Commander, and Brigade Headquarters’ Commandant for an Infantry Brigade were all very impressive milestones that I had achieved.  Then he suggested that I join one of the high-powered companies in the medical, biotech, or financial fields and become a sales trainee. He had high hopes that with my drive, I would succeed. I, on the other hand, was hoping to be a Senior Manager or a Company CEO. He smiled and said, “You are not a retiring General with connections. You need to start at the bottom and work your way up.”  

The military taught me to set goals, design a road map and work at it until it was achieved. The road has been colorful at best. I left behind a steady paycheck, retirement options, potential retirement benefits, health care benefits, etc. Just to keep it simple: there are no vacations or sick days and you are working 24/7 if you want to succeed.

I, instead, took the road less traveled. The road lead me to Contract Security Management and ultimately real estate for the past 20+ years in the Boston, MA and the Greater Los Angeles, CA real estate market. The competition is high and the opportunities are higher, but you can never take your eye off the goal.

This is universal to all businesses and particularly to the sales field. With true passion, perseverance, and focus, you will succeed. When you interview for a position, make sure that you get this point across and at the same time remember the interview is a two way street. Get to know the organization’s climate and see if it is a good fit for you. Do not focus on just getting the job, but rather focus on whether or not you can stay the course for years to come.

If this idea is too challenging, then you might consider staying the course and serving until retirement. Enjoy the camaraderie that is not as prevalent in the civilian world as it is in the military. Either way, best wishes for success in all your endeavors!

Read more Command Posts, here!

Veteran Entrepreneur Overcomes Obstacles to Create Popular Mobile App

CPT Cameron Smith, US Army

Air Force pilot, Gregory Coleman, and fellow MBA candidate, Benjamin Young, realized they faced a problem while they attended the prestigious Wharton School of Business. Both men juggled family obligations, full-time work, and a rigorous academic schedule and had little time and energy to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They needed a solution.

Coleman, a 1995 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a pilot with over 60 combat and combat support missions, decided to solve this problem with the help of Young’s tech expertise. Together, the men founded Nexercise, a technology company that makes the popular Sworkit mobile app. Sworkit provides a simple way to workout anywhere, anytime with no need for equipment.

But, their entrepreneurial journey wasn’t easy. Coleman and Young graduated from business school in 2009 at the height of the global economic recession. Though their first product gained impressive traction, they wanted to create a breakout app and eventually pivoted their focus to the Sworkit project. Both men worked on the business during nights and weekends while maintaining other careers. In fact, Coleman still served as an active duty pilot in the Air National Guard when the two applied and were rejected from the famous Techstars accelerator.

However, the rejection led Coleman to a sister program called Patriot Boot Camp which targets Veterans involved in technology start-ups.

Coleman was able to attend the three-day Patriot Boot Camp in Washington, D.C. in 2012 and was exposed to a host of mentors and resources. More importantly, the program served as a community and support network for him. Entrepreneurship can often be a lonely journey and through the Patriot Boot Camp, Coleman was encouraged by the camaraderie of Veterans who were on a similar journey.

Armed with the experience and support from the Patriot Boot Camp, Coleman and Young reapplied to Techstars and were accepted to the 2013 cohort based in Chicago. This three-month program was a huge catalyst for their Sworkit app and propelled Coleman to eventually resign his full time role with the Air National Guard to focus solely on the business.

Since then, Sworkit has been a resounding success. In 2015 alone, it has grown from 200k monthly users to over 1.8 million. Today, Coleman serves as the COO of the company and manages execution and business operations. Like many Veterans, he brings valuable skills such as innovative problem solving and perseverance to the founding team. He also credits the great mentorship provided by Patriot Boot Camp and Techstars with providing key ingredients to Sworkit’s success.

Coleman’s story is a prime example of how military members can leverage their skills and “no fail” mentality to solve problems and make an impact. Coleman firmly believes that Veterans make great entrepreneurs, but that “taking the leap” is also where many Veterans stall..

Veterans can’t forget that the roadmap to entrepreneurial success is often marked with setbacks and obstacles. However, resources like the Patriot Boot Camp and finding mentors are essential to becoming a success story like Sworkit.

Visit http://sworkit.com/ to learn more about Sworkit. And if you’re an aspiring Veteran entrepreneur, check out Patriot Boot Camp!

Author: Cameron Smith is a former Army Officer who is taking the leap into entrepreneurship.

Read more Command Posts, here!

Advice for the Micromanager

LCDR Bill Wright, US NAVY

During my last tour on active duty I got to see my peers take early commands as O-4s in the Navy.  Many of these Commanding Officers were friends and as such, we spent time talking about issues they would not discuss with most people.  One thing I noticed is that our community had developed a group of micromanagers as part of our culture.  There was this extreme fear of even the smallest of errors.  People referred to it as the “zero defect mentality”. Many of these COs felt like they had to do everything themselves, which resulted in them working themselves to death.  Some of the worst offenders almost never left the ship.  Many got divorced and still did not have a successful tour, ensuring they would never command again.   As I worked thorough my latest class, “Inclusive Leadership Training: Becoming a Successful Leader”, I became aware that some of the people on this forum could learn a lesson from this story and become better leaders within their organizations.  

As I tried to help my friends realize that they had a team of good people to help bear the burden of their command, I would tell them these two rules about every person on their ship:

1. They are smarter than you on something or things.

2. They will never do a task exactly the way you do.

The problem was fear.  Fear that someone would mess up and one defect would ruin everything.  But in reality, sailors understand their jobs. They know their tasks, roles, and functions on the ship.  We have the best Navy in the world because we have the best sailors.  The problem is to get the leadership to let them do what they need to do in order to get the job done.  As I said, this was a culture in the SWO community, so the CO did not trust the Officers, then the Officers did not trust the Chiefs, and so on.  This is where they were missing the critical mark of a good leader, which is to empower someone to be accountable and make good decisions.  Every person wants the opportunity to succeed.   In my opinion, no one wakes up in the morning and says to themselves “How can I screw things up today?”

So the good leader must let go and let their team support the mission.  This process may take longer and be painful for the leader to watch.  This brings up a corollary to the second fact about people, which is that it may not be the same way but is it good enough.  In reality, things are never perfect and never have to be.  To quote George S. Patton, “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.”

That is the mark of a true leader.  Unfortunately, I think sometimes we get too caught up in this “zero defect mentality” to realize that we are hurting our organization.  Hurting it today because our sailors do not feel valued and worthy of our trust and thus not operating at full potential.  Hurting it in the future because these sailors grow up to be the leaders of tomorrow’s Navy.

A leader’s responsibility is to encourage and support their team to make decisions and grow.  They should run top cover and ensure the team has all the tools and knowledge to be successful.   Only then will their team feel fully engaged and working at full throttle.  Allowing them to get their jobs done frees up time for mentoring and coaching.  But, don’t use that newfound “free” time to look over their shoulders and fall back into that old habit of micromanagement.

In today’s Navy and Military we need transformational leaders.  Gone are the days where it was an ole boy’s sailing club where what happened at sea stayed at sea.  The fact is that we are a diverse, transparent organization where something could happen today and be the trending topic on Twitter tonight.  Leaders have to get away from that “us vs. them” mentality and encourage feedback on ways to better the organization.  Everyone from the senior officer to the junior seaman has to feel valued enough to be able to point out ways we can improve our system.  We need transformational leaders that are willing to value both the differences of our teams and make each person know their opinion is considered.

I was honored to serve with many good COs and leaders in my 24 years of active duty and now in industry.  I think each one of them had their strengths and weaknesses, but the good leaders always made me feel valued and encouraged me to make decisions without fear of messing up.  I think that is the mark of a true leader.  We are all part of a team and have never accomplished anything great on our own.  Embrace your team and don’t be that micromanager that has a death grip on everything under their control.  We are all leaders in some aspect of our lives and this applies to each one of us.  

Read more Command Posts, here!

3 Ways to Get College Credit from Your Joint Services Transcript (JST)

Capt Craig Gilman, USMC

As a military or veteran student, you’ve gained valuable training, skills, and experience while serving your country, which is documented in your Joint Services Transcript (JST). You’re probably aware that your JST can be used to earn transfer credit when applying to school, but are you taking full advantage of the different types of military college credits available? 

Step 1: Use Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to Your Advantage

To understand how your JST can help get the most transfer credit into your chosen college degree, first you need to understand the variety of ways in which transfer credit can be achieved.

Generally, PLA refers to any means of bringing transfer credit into a degree program at any college. Common examples include:

· Prior college learning

· AP examinations from high school

· College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores

Some schools offer a structured PLA program to help you maximize the credit you can transfer into an academic program based on your military and life experiences. For adult students with real-world experience, seeking out such schools can be advantageous, because you may be able to graduate sooner and for less cost. 

Our PLA program at American Military University gives you the opportunity to earn credit for learning outside the confines of a traditional classroom, in addition to what may have been earned via the American Council of Education (ACE) or college-level testing. Our unique PLA process allows you to demonstrate this through:

· College-level knowledge

· Skills and abilities as the result of work experience

· Formal corporate or military training not evaluated by ACE

· Business ownership

· Volunteer work

· Independent study

· Travel and many other life experiences   

Documentation is Your Friend

Documentation will help you get as many credits as possible. It can include sample work products, training certificates, workplace evaluations, letters of recommendation, and photographs. As a military student, you have the advantage of providing your JST as documentation in support of these requirements. 

Consider a military intelligence analyst stationed abroad. While credit may be recommended on the JST due to the analyst’s formal intelligence training, the region-specific knowledge and skills the analyst attained while living abroad will not. However, the analyst can use the JST to verify training, in combination with a resume and narrative to demonstrate years’ worth of experience and observation in a local culture. This could demonstrate the analyst’s mastery of certain learning objectives of a particular course in a degree program, such as intelligence or international relations, and provide sufficient evidence to earn college credit awarded through the PLA process.

Before you apply to such PLA programs, which do require some time, effort and expense—be sure to maximize the more common means of transferring credits into a degree program.

Step 2: Maximize Transfer Credit Using Your JST

The Military Course Completions and Military Experience sections of the JST contain a list of all your military training and occupational assignments. Often, these have been recommended for credit and are certified by ACE. ACE specializes in translating military experience into recommended college credit. Verify that your JST is included with any application when enrolling at a college. First, ask the college to confirm that it will accept relevant credit recommendations from your JST.

Under the Other Learning Experiences section, other training and real-world knowledge and experience is listed. Although no course credit is earned for these experiences, the information is valuable in proving competency for credentialing and qualification for employment. This is important for students attempting to earn additional transfer credits at colleges that offer a prior learning assessment option.

Step 3: Choose Your School & Program Wisely

Be aware that there are limits to the amount of transfer credit any reputable college or university will allow. Institutions of higher education that maintain expectations of academic rigor often have a residency requirement, which stipulates that students must take at least 25 percent of their program at their school in order to award a diploma. Schools that do not enforce this industry standard warrant a second look.

Selecting a specific degree program is a personal and important choice. It should be based on your long-term career and individual goals. If earning a degree in the shortest amount of time is critical to your goals, be sure to first review the degree requirements. Match them to any prior learning you already have, or to what you believe might earn you credit through a PLA program with your JST.

Consider schools that have a history of accepting legitimate transfer credit from legitimate sources, such as prior college credit, college-level testing and ACE-recommended military training. Do not ignore accreditation. As a general rule, for academic degree programs look for regional accreditation. Then, confirm that the school offers a formalized PLA process.

Different schools have different policies regarding the acceptance of transfer credit. Some accept minimal credit based on military training. Some do not provide sufficient military specific services that current and former Servicemembers deserve. So get another opinion. By using these three steps and knowing how PLA works to your advantage, you’ll be well-equipped to maximize the academic credits you may have already earned by serving your nation.

Read more Command Posts, here! 

Eradicating the Cancer of Sexual Assaults from our Military

MG Robert Shadley, US ARMY

While serving as the Commanding General of the U. S. Army Ordnance Center and Schools at Aberdeen Proving Ground some two decades ago, I uncovered what was basically a crime ring.  Drill sergeants were having a contest to see who could have sex with the most students in our advanced individual training classes.  It became readily apparent by reading reports that this abuse of power was occurring not only at Aberdeen but also at other Army installations and within other Services.

When all the studies by the Department of the Army were completed and formally announced in September 1997, the Pentagon’s emphasis for correcting the problem of sexual assaults was to allege that Aberdeen was an aberration and that sexual assaults were only a problem within one school’s command. They insisted that the problem that needed to be addressed Army-wide was sexual harassment.

If one were to look at sexual assault as the cancer, then sexual harassment is the precursor.  Attacking the issue of sexual harassment is vital to ensuring all civilians, military and family members are not subjected to objectionable language and conduct and are able to feel comfortable in the workplace and living areas.  The cancer is still sexual assault and it continues to this day in our military.

I have had the privilege and honor over the past two years to address hundreds of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators, Victims Advocates, Special Victims Counsels, and leaders who are working hard to eradicate the cancer of sexual assaults.  I have also talked with survivors, commanders, family members, law enforcement officials, and medical personnel.   I have learned from them that the cancer lives on, DOD-wide.

As I go about discussing this issue in the private sector to include colleges, religious groups, civic organizations, and service organizations, I emphasize that it is only 1-2% of the military that are perpetrators of sexual assaults.  But this 1-2% cause irreparable damage to survivors while concurrently damaging the reputation of the greatest military ever.

My specific recommendations with regard to eradicating this cancer have remained consistent over the past few years. I know the women appointed to positions to work on this issue are working hard, and I mean no disrespect by the following comment:  As long as the military keeps putting women in charge of the prevention of sexual harassment/sexual assault, these problems will be seen as women’s issues and not military issues. Prevention of sexual assault is not a personnel or human relations issue; it’s a force protection issue. It needs to be handled in units by the same staffs who are working to prevent injury and death by improvised explosive device attacks, terrorist attacks on facilities and people, etc.

When working with the Department of Defense budget, be careful when cutting people who facilitate a commander’s  ability to gain situational awareness of what is going on in echelons below him or her.  It is essential that all support mechanisms are in place for soldiers and that the flow of information to decision makers is not impeded.

Sexual harassment prevention training needs to be continual and frequent.

Using sex to get ahead should not be tolerated. Women need to police their ranks just like men must do for theirs. Anyone found guilty of sexual assault and other felonies should be drummed out of the Army (Military). No second chance, no mercy—just as the Army handled drug users beginning in the 1980s.

In my simplistic mind, the key to the prevention of sexual harassment and sexual felonies in the military is for every service member and civilian, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, or rank, to be a keeper of the standards. If a soldier or civilian sees someone doing something that even appears to be wrong, he or she needs to call the offender (male or female) out on it. Give that person a chance to stop, unless it is so bad that higher ups need to know right away. If that person doesn’t stop, report them to their leadership.

Leaders must do the “tough right” and not the “easy wrong.”  They must act on concerns brought to their attention, and their subordinates need to know that it’s okay to take their complaints through other channels to get resolution. The enforcement of the highest tactical, technical, ethical, and moral standards is up to every soldier and civilian in the military. If we are going to stamp out misconduct of all types, every person must enforce the standards. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

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MG(Ret) Robert D. Shadley served in key leadership and staff positions during his 33-year career.  He is the author of "The GAMe: Unraveling a Military Sex Scandal" which documents sexual misconduct and abuse of power at an Army school.  The book is on the Army Chief of Staff Professional Reading List.


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General Counseling and Military Justice

SSG Guy Gould, US ARMY

The single most important thing in the military justice system is accurate evidence. The General Counseling Form and written statements, whether formal or informal, are important to any military justice file and therefore important to any counseling file. Maybe I should clarify this a little bit more by adding that, of course, they must be properly completed.

Why are they important? These documents are important in order to have an accurate reflection on any noteworthy event such as monthly counseling or event oriented counseling. Why is it important for them to be properly completed? Should the occasion arise that these general counseling files are required to be submitted to your legal office, these documents serve as evidence to a certain degree. Should they be improperly completed, they will be useless to your legal office and will likely be returned to the unit to be filed there and remain unusable no matter how much you argue with them.

Why would they be useless? Let’s take a sworn statement as an example. On the sworn statement, there are places to insert date and time data. It’s important to establish a required timeline with the correct information. An Election of Rights Form should accompany a sworn statement when someone is being accused of doing something wrong. When you look at these two documents together, the timeline needs to make sense. The date and time data on the Election of Rights should be within about 2 hours of the date and time data on the sworn statement. This is in order to show that these two forms go together, and that the service member was afforded their rights prior to making a sworn statement. If the timeline doesn’t make sense, the evidence isn’t any good and likely will not be used.

Another example is the date and time data on a general counseling statement when a company commander decides to separate a service member for being overweight. There are mandatory timelines that need to be met as well as accompanying document requirements. If any one of these required documents is improperly completed or missing altogether, it will reset the entire timeline back to the beginning, invalidating several months of paperwork and testing. The commander and first sergeant will be looking to separate those that didn’t take the time to do things right the first time. These are just two examples of what can happen if legal paperwork is not properly completed. Contact your unit’s legal section to find out more about completing these forms and others like them. It will save you a lot of headaches in the future.

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