Career

Five Books That Will Supercharge Your Military Career

August 20, 2012 by Casey

Today I want to introduce you to five books that have influenced my life in every way. These books are straight forward and simple, but yield amazing results.

1. Getting Things Done by David Allen

Getting Things Done

Productivity. It’s essential in today’s military. There’s not enough time to accomplish everything on your To Do list. Your head feels cluttered trying to keep up with your primary job, family, volunteering, and college. Getting Things Done is the answer to the knowledge worker’s problems.

In his book, David Allen shows you how to capture everything that you think about into a single system. Write down all your projects and commitments. Organize them by context, or the place where you will likely accomplish them. If something takes less than two minutes, do it.

I’ve used GTD for five years now and have accomplished so much. I feel good about myself knowing I’m keeping up with my job and not neglecting my family. Give GTD a try!

2. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Total Money Makeover

The first books I read on personal finance were about investing. I was really into the Motley Fool and Rich Dad Poor Dad. Those books are great, but you need to read Total Money Makeover first. Why? You need to have your finances in order before you start investing.

You need an emergency fund (at least $500). You need to pay off your credit cards and get out of debt (for good!). Dave Ramsey calls these baby steps and he lays them out in plain english.

Dave Ramsey has a great radio show that will keep you on track. My favorite thing about Dave Ramsey is how he keeps you motivated!

3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

How to Win Friends and Influence People A huge part of leadership is learning to deal with people. I can’t think of a better way to learn this skill then by reading How to Win Friends.

This part of the book has always stuck with me:

Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

This book shows you how to treat people, whether it’s in the workplace or not. I’ve given this book to several NCOs that were trying to improve their leadership skills, and have seen improvement in every one.

Improving your relationships will improve your life. This is a book that everybody should read at least once.

4. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People This is a great all around book on improving yourself. If you want to get promoted at work, just try implementing the first seven habits:

Be Proactive
Begin with the end in mind
Put first things first

There are countless books written on each of these three subjects alone. Steven Covey covers them brilliantly and in a simple fashion. His final habit “Sharpen the Saw” reminds us to continually read, learn, and exercise to keep our bodies and minds in excellent shape.

5. Body for Life by Bill Phillips

Body for Life is a great book that will help you get in shape. It not olny covers fitness, but also eating healthy. The support files on the web site are great and help keep you on track.

How to Pass the PT Test – When you Suck at PT

August 5, 2012 by Casey

PT Test

The PT test is stressful. You can’t prepare for it overnight, and there’s a lot riding on the line if you fail. If you’re like me and suck at PT, you need to put the odds in your favor. Here’s how:

1. Schedule your PT test well ahead of your annual report

Do not take your PT test three weeks before your annual report is due. Take your test at least six months ahead of time. Why? If the worst case happens and you fail, you can make it up so it does not impact your personal records. If you are test right before an annual report, you leave your supervisor little choice but to issue you a bad report. This could have serious repercussions.

2. Start preparing early

You need to start preparing for your test at least three months early.

3. Work out for yourself – not for the PT test

You will get in much better shape if you get into fitness for yourself. There are too many ways to cheat yourself if you work out only for the PT test. Work out to feel better and to look good. Try to impress your friends. Set some goals. You will do a much better job if you’re in it for yourself.

4. Choose a plan and stick to it

Fitness plans, such as Body for Life, give you simple instructions and schedules that anybody can follow. I use Body for Life when I need to get in shape fast. It’s tough to stick with it in the long run, but you WILL see results.

Body for Life Fitness

5. Know the exact scores you need and watch them closely on test day

You should know exactly how many sit-ups you need to pass. You should come across the finish line glancing at your watch, knowing you have xx seconds to spare. I’m always surprised when I see people check the score card AFTER the test and see they failed by 2 push-ups.

PT Score Charts

6. Use a pace runner to motivate you through the run

Have a friend or supervisor run with you at a set pace. They may be able to motivate you through spots where you may have quit.

7. Ask for help

Above all, there is nothing wrong with asking your supervisor for help if you’re worried about the test. Every unit I’ve been in would gladly help someone get in better shape. So don’t be ashamed. It shows more maturity to get help and pass rather than surprise everyone by failing.

Want to be an Officer? It’s Easier than you Think

July 27, 2010 by Casey

2Lt Rank If you’re enlisted and want to become an officer, I have a plan for you. Get out when your enlistment is up. Apply to a university with an ROTC program. Use your GI Bill to pay for school while you complete your degree and attend ROTC. BAM! In 2-3 years you’ll be pinning on bars.

GI Bill + ROTC = Commission

A sharp enlisted troop with 1-2 years of college has an outstanding opportunity to earn a commission. The easiest option is to simply get out of the military once your enlistment is up and join ROTC at a university. The next available option would be to apply for a program that lets you out of your enlistment early (more on that below).

Why ROTC? Here’s a secret: many students that try to join ROTC aren’t cut out for the military. Some run two laps around the track and pass out. Others hate the idea of marching or doing anything really military. Because of this, a class of 30 freshmen drops to about to 10 by the senior year.

But you already pass the fitness test. You know how to march and you’ve seen the real military. ROTC will develop your leadership skills and test you in this area. But odds are you will excel when compared to your peers. By using your GI Bill you can comfortably support yourself while going through college and ROTC. You’ll be more mature than many of the other students and should do well in college just by applying yourself rather than binge drinking.

Unlike other commissioning programs, if you make it through an ROTC program you will commission when you graduate. Let’s be clear, I’m not saying that being an officer is easy, or that the process will be a piece of cake. But when it comes to getting in the game and following the track to being an officer, joining a college ROTC program is probably the easiest way.

Plan of Action

1. Talk to a counselor at your education center

They can tell you if you qualify for a program that lets you out of your enlistment early. If one is available, then apply. If not, no big deal. If you have the new GI Bill you can simply wait until your enlistment is up and attend ROTC then. There’s really no difference between the new GI Bill and the scholarships that the services offer in terms of money. The major difference is that they will likely let you leave early (I left at 3 out of 4 years for mine).

2. Call an ROTC recruiter for your desired branch

For a while, students could join ROTC during their third or fourth year of college. From what I’ve heard this is no longer the case. You need to find out at what point you can no longer attend ROTC. For instance, can I join ROTC if I’ve completed 60 credits and am transferring to a university as a junior? Do I need to be a certain major to join? For most services you need to have 2 years of college remaining to join ROTC. Your major should not matter. But check to be sure.

3. Choose a nearby school with an ROTC program

You can either go to a school with a program, or attend via “cross-town” which means you drive to that school for your ROTC courses.

4. Work out a degree plan with your college counselor

5. Execute!

Don’t give up, you can do this! So many enlisted troops I talk to think that becoming an officer is some crazy process that is out of their reach. ROTC is an opportunity to jump right into the track towards your commission.

Resources

Air Force ROTC

Army ROTC

Navy ROTC (also for Marines)