US Patriot Chamber of Commerce’s Post

Installment # 3 on how service members I worked with/for/over adjusted to corporate America. The Navy version... Retired Navy officers, much like retired Marine officers I knew, did not adjust very well to corporations I worked for. Perhaps, the least well adjusted was a retired Navy Captain that came on board the same day as me, and was fired within six months for putting his hands on someone. For some reason, I worked with a half dozen retired Navy Captains, all top performers, and other than the one that was fired, the rest just quit. The best quote I recall from one of them who was a stellar performer said, "I could never get anyone above me to realize their leadership style was toxic and counterproductive." He was absolutely correct. I did work with one retired Navy officer who was a POS. His finances were a mess because he bought too much house and too expensive cars after retirement, or perhaps he was a POS in the Navy too. Navy one termers, officers and enlisted, I worked with did very well. I can think of ten I worked with and each was a high performer that built great teams. However, none could ever get promoted and were considered poor communicators, i.e. they were loud and honest in their critiques. Veterans, please work on your communication skills. You can build great teams with the skills you learn in the military, but the constant lecturing by HR and your boss about how you speak to people, especially them, will be a constant mental headache for you. And get your finances in order before you leave the military. #veterans #veteranshelpingveterans #leadership #marines

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): If you still represent yourself as a military member after retirement, act like it! CCM(Ret): What does that mean? While I normally will post about leadership, agriculture, education, military/veterans and other items of professional interest, today I’m pointing out a problem I’ve noticed, and I hope that together as #Veterans we can address it politely and properly.  Those who have chosen to use their last held military rank with (Ret) after it and even continue to use their military photo as their profile – I have no issue here and respect your service, as I hope you respect mine (as a retired Command Chief Master Sergeant and former public-school educator). However, if you do choose to use your military photo and/or rank in your profile, use discretion: You’re still representing your branch of service to the public. This should come with a measured approach to all reposts and comments you personally contribute to our online community. Someone with their RANK(ret) in their profile referring to the current President as a nickname derived from a NASCAR chant (I just saw this over the weekend) is not only improper, but it also degrades the public's trust and is disrespecting the uniform you choose to continue to present yourself in. Regardless of the rank you earned; you, my former colleagues, should take care when posting about the current, or former Commander in Chief or even candidates for public office. If you still represent yourself as a part of the United States Military: Act like it or change your profile! Honor and Integrity don't evaporate when you retire. I continue to work each day to live up to my core values, even though I am now USAF, retired. Please join me in keeping the public trust. #retwithhonor United States Air Force US Army United States Marine Corps US Navy United States Space Force Air National Guard Army National Guard U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) American Legion

Transition tip for veterans: Creating trust and confidence that opens doors requires time and patience. Stepping out on new walks of life are part of that journey. Business owners build customers one at a time. Leaders build trust one interaction at a time. Companies make bets on leaders based on confidence in aligned values and proven ability to deliver what matters to the company. How many advocates did it take to achieve O-5 command? Command delivers transformative experience. So does leading a business unit. They’re not the same, although they share common elements. Leading people is not the same as managing finance - and managing a command budget definitely isn’t the same as managing a capital project or program. Common threads - different goals, challenges and values. Think of your network as a way to build like-minded advocates - One at a time. Bigger roles require larger trust networks. In business, trust generally equates to capital responsibility and head count. Earning that trust happens one project and one mentor at a time. My observation: Don’t worry about the title. Focus on the opportunity to learn and grow. And: don’t overlook the chance to bet on yourself by starting your own company. The ultimate leadership experience requires no resume. Here’s a great way to contribute to some insightful research. I don’t align to the title but I do appreciate the intent. Misty Cook #dreambigger

🎉 A Little-Known Veterans Day Fun Fact 🎉 Did you know that Veterans Day isn’t just about honoring all who have served? One branch of the U.S. military also celebrates its birthday right around this special day. 🪖 This year, on November 10th—just one day before Veterans Day—the United States Marine Corps turned an impressive 248 years old. Semper Fi to the Marines! When we asked which branch of the military shares this unique connection, most of you nailed it. (Confession: I didn’t!) Here's how the poll results stacked up: 🛳️ Navy: 4% ✈️ Air Force: 2% 🪖 Marine Corps: 85% (Correct!) 🎖️ Army: 10% 👏 A big thank-you to everyone who participated! Spotlight on Veteran-Owned Businesses Did you know that veteran-owned businesses play a critical role in the entrepreneurial landscape? 🇺🇸 Over 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses operate in the U.S. 🏢 These businesses make up 9% of all small businesses. 👩💼 They employ more than 5 million people and generate nearly $1 trillion in annual sales. As we honor our veterans, let’s also celebrate their contributions beyond the battlefield. These businesses reflect the resilience, leadership, and innovation veterans bring to the civilian world. This week, we also recognize minority-owned, women-owned, and independent small businesses for their vital contributions to the U.S. economy. Together, they embody the strength, diversity, and spirit of the American Dream. ➡️ Take Action: Share these fun facts with your network and consider supporting small businesses—including veteran-owned ones—this holiday season. Every purchase makes a difference! #VeteransDay #MarineCorpsBirthday #SmallBusiness #SupportVeterans #Leadership #AmericanDream #AnnaWilds

It's National Veterans and Military Families Month. I'd like to share U.S. Army veteran Douglas Balin's story with you. He's a technical operations supervisor for Comcast and he strives to instill confidence in those leaving a military career. Douglas also wants hiring managers to understand why veterans should be considered during the recruitment process for roles that might not be obvious choices. Learn about the benefits of hiring veterans today. #NationalVeteransandMilitaryFamiliesMonth #veterans #comcastbusiness #iworkforcomcast

It's National Veterans and Military Families Month. I'd like to share U.S. Army veteran Douglas Balin's story with you. He's a technical operations supervisor for Comcast and he strives to instill confidence in those leaving a military career. Douglas also wants hiring managers to understand why veterans should be considered during the recruitment process for roles that might not be obvious choices. Learn about the benefits of hiring veterans today. #NationalVeteransandMilitaryFamiliesMonth #veterans #comcastbusiness #iworkforcomcast

It's National Veterans and Military Families Month. I'd like to share U.S. Army veteran Douglas Balin's story with you. He's a technical operations supervisor for Comcast and he strives to instill confidence in those leaving a military career. Douglas also wants hiring managers to understand why veterans should be considered during the recruitment process for roles that might not be obvious choices. Learn about the benefits of hiring veterans today. #NationalVeteransandMilitaryFamiliesMonth #veterans #comcastbusiness #iworkforcomcast

It's National Veterans and Military Families Month. I'd like to share U.S. Army veteran Douglas Balin's story with you. He's a technical operations supervisor for Comcast and he strives to instill confidence in those leaving a military career. Douglas also wants hiring managers to understand why veterans should be considered during the recruitment process for roles that might not be obvious choices. Learn about the benefits of hiring veterans today. #NationalVeteransandMilitaryFamiliesMonth #veterans #comcastbusiness #iworkforcomcast

It's National Veterans and Military Families Month. I'd like to share U.S. Army veteran Douglas Balin's story with you. He's a technical operations supervisor for Comcast and he strives to instill confidence in those leaving a military career. Douglas also wants hiring managers to understand why veterans should be considered during the recruitment process for roles that might not be obvious choices. Learn about the benefits of hiring veterans today. #NationalVeteransandMilitaryFamiliesMonth #veterans #comcastbusiness #iworkforcomcast

It's National Veterans and Military Families Month. I'd like to share U.S. Army veteran Douglas Balin's story with you. He's a technical operations supervisor for Comcast and he strives to instill confidence in those leaving a military career. Douglas also wants hiring managers to understand why veterans should be considered during the recruitment process for roles that might not be obvious choices. Learn about the benefits of hiring veterans today. #NationalVeteransandMilitaryFamiliesMonth #veterans #comcastbusiness #iworkforcomcast