In my recent travels I found myself with a couple of hours to kill between flights in Atlanta. Standing under one of the departure display screens was a group of uniformed U.S. Army personnel looking at connecting flights. There was another observable feature displayed by this group that was deeper than the uniform. There were a surprising number of females in this predominantly male cluster of people and the cross section of all obvious ethnic groups was also represented. In a single impromptu squad of soldiers was the display of absolute diversity. Their overheard conversations showed that they had a bond of camaraderie and shared a passion for their chosen career path. I greeted them with, “I just want to thank you for your service.†I got sincere thank-you’s in return and the conversation ended there, but they were all beaming with pride.
One community in Bangor, Maine has created the ultimate welcome home to these heroes. It seems to happen mostly in small towns where the “disruption†of the flow of stressed travelers is less noticed. The PBS film The Way We Get By will move you toward a better understanding of the importance of such actions:
[vimeo 2680558]
Apparently, not a whole lot of people give these young patriots thanks for what they do. I can relate to that because those of us who served in an earlier era fought in an unpopular war in Southeast Asia and there were no parades or throngs of people saying thanks when we returned. The common greeting among Vietnam Veterans is, “Welcome, home brother!†so they can hear that from someone who understands and cares. With all the turmoil that surrounds us in the world, those two terms are not pushed enough: Understanding; Caring. Most people do not understand the life lived by these people and the hardships they endure. Most people don’t really care… oh, they give it lip service, but the evidence of lack of caring is seen in everyday treatment of returning veterans trying to enter the job market. Most people don’t understand them and really don’t care.
If you have never walked a mile in their boots, you can’t possibly understand… you can only guess. If you want to feel what they feel, talk to them. Listen to their story. If you don’t know what they want or have to offer your company, ask them.
If you want to truly care, give them a chance to prove themselves. These people are not only trained in leadership they excel in followership. Nature and the U.S. military abhor a vacuum, so if nobody is leading step out of their way and you will be amazed.
The final step is to share the story you have heard and the surprises that employing former military brings to a job. The problem of discrimination against these people will not be broken until everybody knows. Remember: They understand true diversity and will not accept your half-hearted efforts as genuine.
Image credit: PBS.org – The Way We Get By
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As I said elsewhere: excellent & important. My brother-in-law did 2 tours in Iraq with the USMC.
And Tom: I’m a civilian, so I wasn’t there, I don’t know it. But I can say what should have been said to you more then: thank you.
Thank you, Ed. The message of understanding and caring for our modern day heroes needs to be shouted from the rooftops… and maybe social media to get it out faster and farther.
Tell your brother-in-law thank you for me.
Tom — most of my family has served from WWII to now. We even have a few relatives sitting in the Pentagon taking care of some very critical and sensitive issues, but that is about all I can say about their work publicly.
We make sure our employees and our children do one thing when they see anyone in uniform or fatigues: stop everything you are doing, it’s not that important as walking over as saying, “Sir / Ma’am – thank you! Thank you very much!” Those of us that are veterans will salute, the rest will give them a very firm handshake. There’s even been hugs happening — something that none of us every forget.
For your time and service, dedication and commitment — our family want to thank you as well as all your brothers, military or otherwise! Thank you! OORRAH!!! 🙂
Thanks, Garrett. You and your family are patriots of the highest order. Thanks to you all. Ooorrah!
Tom – I had the opportunity to serve in uniform for over 25 years and I now serve as a Local Veterans Employment Representative. The history lessons this has generated for have been many.
First let me say that I agree with what you have said; however, it goes beyond a lack of caring by our fellow country people. The problem extends to our use of language, communications, and our belief structures. Simply put, all people have an issue with communicating outside of our own groups. Military folks have less of an issue on a personal level, but a greater issue on the professional level. What I am saying is we who have served in the military are forced, by being put with others from varied locations, to communicate and understand on the one on one level. However, on the professional level, military folks develop their own language and culture that is difficult for the average civilian to understand. Additionally, the civilian culture is provided information and images of military service which, although true, provides an incomplete picture of what those that serve bring to any situation.
This creates a gap that must be crossed from both sides. I think what I am saying is that veterans do not adequately let folks outside the service know just what they bring to the table. Why is this? We are trained to perform functions/duties/missions, more often than not, not why those actions were important to the success of the unit actions or the overall objective; or as I have heard so many times, “I just did my job” and drive on. We veterans need to better communicate how/what we, as a whole person, positively helped to get things accomplished.
I am not letting the other 90 % of the population off the hook because veterans haven’t let them know what they bring to the table. Far from it! As I said earlier, I agree with you. A civilian business owner/operator has a responsibility to his company, stockholders and managers to hire those that are going to help that company move forward and be profitable. This requires hiring managers to be able to recognize talent, skills and abilities that will achieve this end. They need to be professional about this, meaning not just looking at how a person talks about themselves, but what they are really saying. Thinking with more than just a checklist and learning a little something about related fields and activities, understanding the language and taking a chance to ask if a box is not completely marked.
Many times the best fit is not the person with the most education, but the person that can be given a mission and successfully completes it. What is more important, knowledge or the ability to synthesize knowledge and apply it for a positive outcome?
Semper Gumby
Jerry
Great addition to the dialog, Jerry. I have another series of posts planned to talk about the shortsightedness of some of the returnees with an entitlement attitude. I want to give them a good old Patton slap and tell them that they deserve more than handouts. I never give the guy at the exit ramp holding the “homeless veteran” sign any money in his bucket… but have resisted the temptation to flip him off.
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