Working with cream of the crop is a great recipe for
success. If you’ve ever wondered why our
Armed Forces are the best in the world, there is a simple explanation.
To wear America’s uniform you can’t be an average candidate—you have to be among the best. Taking everything into account only 2 in 10 Americans between the ages of 18-24 fully qualify for military service.[i] The most notable disqualifiers are health (obesity), academic credentials, lacking a high school diploma or better depending on position, and character —failing the criminal background check. Further, in order to be accepted, qualified candidates must meet additional more stringent physical, academic, and character requirements.
To wear America’s uniform you can’t be an average candidate—you have to be among the best. Taking everything into account only 2 in 10 Americans between the ages of 18-24 fully qualify for military service.[i] The most notable disqualifiers are health (obesity), academic credentials, lacking a high school diploma or better depending on position, and character —failing the criminal background check. Further, in order to be accepted, qualified candidates must meet additional more stringent physical, academic, and character requirements.
All in all, including waivers, our military is built from
the top 25-30 percent of our nation’s youth, the cream of the crop.
Such high standards for military recruits are needed to sustain
the world’s most professional and high-tech force. We need recruits that are strong, smart, and
agile, that can analyze critical data, and make precise split-second decisions. These people operate multi-million dollar
ships, fighter jets, tanks with the world’s most advanced technology supporting
them via communications, logistics, maintenance, and procurement. Just about every phase of military strategy
involves the use of advanced software and hardware that is at least as
sophisticated as systems used to support civilian business operations.
These young military recruits rapidly grow into mid-level military warriors responsible for managing resources on a scale equivalent to similar positions in small and mid-size businesses. Recruits that advance to senior leadership hold are in positions equivalent to those running the nation’s largest corporations.
These young military recruits rapidly grow into mid-level military warriors responsible for managing resources on a scale equivalent to similar positions in small and mid-size businesses. Recruits that advance to senior leadership hold are in positions equivalent to those running the nation’s largest corporations.
Potentially more important, our warriors have been trained for
these roles each step of the way—advanced technical and hands-on courses—and leadership
training like that provided in top MBA programs but taken to the next
level. Such rigorous preparation is
required to lead, not just manage highly skilled teams where profit and loss is
measured in lives versus dollars.
Imagine that kind of skill set available to the private sector. Well, in fact, it is. These “cream of the crop” warriors are transitioning to the business community at a rate over 16,000 per month, armed with a solid foundation in the advanced skills business leaders say they seek most—leadership, strategic thinking, ability to learn new skills, loyalty, discipline. Yet, hiring managers are quick to point out their lack industry specific experience. What a shame to ignore the depth and breadth of hard to find skills and, instead, focus on what they don’t bring.
Business research suggests that the key to developing a
strong employee and future company leader starts with hiring the right candidate. Our military has modeled that philosophy to
become the most respected institution in our country.
The cream of the crop will always rise to the top. The best warriors in the world, our warriors, demonstrate that every day around the globe. In time, their abilities will be appreciated in civilian organizations, too.
The cream of the crop will always rise to the top. The best warriors in the world, our warriors, demonstrate that every day around the globe. In time, their abilities will be appreciated in civilian organizations, too.
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