How the Military Teaches Businesses

How the Military teaches Businesses

While many of our veterans already know, or at least think we know how business should be done, a group of business leaders just got a peek at what makes us this way. What did this entrepreneur learn? That we must stop to take in our accomplishments. From Forbes:....The significance of this tradition was driven home to me during a once-in-a- lifetime experience that I had, immersed for an entire week in all branches of our U.S. military. I was one of four women invited from a group of 26 civilians to participate in the Senior Leadership Engagement Program sponsored by the Department of Defense. We started each morning at 4:30 and spent action-packed days experiencing the discipline, leadership and commitment of our country’s defenders. We were transported in C-17 and KC-130 cargo aircraft, and a CV-22 tilt rotor aircraft. We explored submarines, drove a Coast Guard Cutter and were allowed to shoot weapons with the Army Rangers.

However, it was the visit to Parris Island, South Carolina, one of the Marine boot camps, which brought home the absolute imperative that we should all stop and take in what we have accomplished. After 13 weeks of intense emotional and mental stress, and physical training, the recruits go through their last challenge before becoming Marines; the Crucible. The Crucible is a 54-hour training event which is grueling at best. At the end of the Crucible, the recruits’ drill instructors hold a ceremony at which the recruits earn the title, “Marine.” The event is called the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor ceremony and it marks the end of recruit training for these young men and women. It is one of the most patriotic events I have ever witnessed.I was privileged to witness the ceremony, where after the Crucible’s 54-hour slog, the recruits hike nine miles to the Iwo Jima monument for this ceremony. The American flag was raised. All of us sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and there wasn’t a dry eye among us. Truly, I will never sing our national anthem again without feeling the deep emotional tug in my heart from that morning. Like my own team, I looked at the faces of these young Americans. I can only say how proud I am of our next generation of heroes, be it on the battlefield or innovating what is next to make our country great.See the full article and author bio at Forbes.com[mwi-cat-listing cat="94" ppp="4" cols="4" desc="false" type="view" btn_color="black" ]