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MIKECHRY
07-31-06, 12:24 PM
I Need To Vent And I Hope This Is The Right Place To Do It. Eventhough I've Been Out Of The Corps For 20 Years Now I Still Can't Get Used To Sloppy Civilians. Why Is It So Hard To Show Up For Work And Do Your Job Without Complaining All The Time? You Can Tell Who Has A Military Background And Those Who Never Learned Any Better. I Work For An Ambulance Service And I Can Believe How Difficult It Is To Get These People Moving. The Work Ethic Sucks!!!

Marine84
07-31-06, 01:16 PM
I feel ya man!

10thzodiac
07-31-06, 02:51 PM
I Need To Vent And I Hope This Is The Right Place To Do It. Eventhough I've Been Out Of The Corps For 20 Years Now I Still Can't Get Used To Sloppy Civilians. Why Is It So Hard To Show Up For Work And Do Your Job Without Complaining All The Time? You Can Tell Who Has A Military Background And Those Who Never Learned Any Better. I Work For An Ambulance Service And I Can Believe How Difficult It Is To Get These People Moving. The Work Ethic Sucks!!!

Recently, I had my garage door replaced, the old one I personally installed 25 years ago, long story short the workmanship from The Home Depot's 1st sub-contractor was so poor, bent over hammered down nails on weather stripping, wrong torsion spring installed upside down and back wards. Another sub-contractor corrected the major problems. The Better Business Bureau Atlanta got a full labor refund for me.

Installed a new asphalt driveway last November, numerous bird baths (depressions) that freeze in winter causing ice hazard. Damage my house siding (old drive removal), while patching this July heat damaged (propane torch) one of four large matching evergreen bushes front of house. I have sent a demand letter last week to company that in fifteen days if I'm not made whole I'll file a pro se law suit.

I just got a $1200 refund from a local attorney who was retained to make changes to our living AB trust , he made the changes to the summary of, not the trust. I wound up doing it myself with the help of the Trust Company I'm using and $150 software CD from ScanSoft.

If you want it done right and on time, you have to do it yourself.

Hope you feel better listening to me, misery loves company.;)

SF

Zulu 36
07-31-06, 06:00 PM
I Need To Vent And I Hope This Is The Right Place To Do It. Eventhough I've Been Out Of The Corps For 20 Years Now I Still Can't Get Used To Sloppy Civilians. Why Is It So Hard To Show Up For Work And Do Your Job Without Complaining All The Time? You Can Tell Who Has A Military Background And Those Who Never Learned Any Better. I Work For An Ambulance Service And I Can Believe How Difficult It Is To Get These People Moving. The Work Ethic Sucks!!!

I too feel your pain. It drove me crazy even supervising police officers. Such a difference between the people with and without military time. Four of my best officers were a former Navy signalman, an Army MP (Vietnam vet), and two AF security policemen. All they needed were mission orders and get out of their way.

My oldest daughter got her current job primarily because she is in the AF Reserves. The doctor (ex-Army) who hired her tries to avoid hiring people without military service specifically because of the work ethic differences. In six months she has received two big pay raises and a promotion. I'd guess she has made the cut.

ggyoung
08-01-06, 11:12 AM
In 1992 I blew out my back while working in the underground coal mine. after 2 back operations they could not fix my back so I retired. Talking to my friends that still work there it is still the same people who are *****ing about the company, the job and the bosses. They don't stop to think that they have a good job and are lucky to have a job.

recon532002
08-01-06, 11:59 AM
Work Ethics are my pet peave also. I have to remember all this did not happen overnight. These people did not have the resorces and role models. I just think it has to start with me. I have to be the best employee I can be, and not worry about the other guy. Recon

killhat3
08-01-06, 12:04 PM
lol this is why im staying in the corps, cant stand them!:evilgrin: :usmc: :flag:

militarycowboy1
08-04-06, 07:50 AM
You mean civilians have a work ethic?! Since when? I was in a meeting yesterday at work with my team members, all of whom are so-called "adults". They were all griping and moaning about how our supervisor treats them like children. They also complained that the only person on the team that she does not treat like a child is me. I thought to myself that they needed to observe themselves with their conduct and their attitude as well as listen to themselves, and then they MIGHT possibly understand why they are treated like children. I thank the Corps and my fellow Marines for teaching me discipline and assisting me in developing my work ethic when I was but a young 18 year old.

SgtDBrownRet
08-04-06, 09:21 PM
I had this long spill typed up and was ready to post, but I remembered. I don't have to, and no one can make me, nah :) (sticking out tongue)

BOOGIEMAN44
08-04-06, 10:07 PM
You Can Tell Who Has A Military Background And Those Who Never Learned Any Better.


WELL, YOU CAN TELL WHO HAS A MARINE CORPS BACK GROUND... ALL THE REST OF ( THEM ) OTHER SERVICES *****, MONE AND COMPLAINE JUST AS MUCH AS CIVILIAN'S DO, AT LEAST THATS WHAT I SEE IN MY LINE OF WORK.

Bige1371
08-05-06, 12:37 AM
I know what you guys and gal mean. I'm working at a Federal Prison and they hire a lot of vets. You can tell who was in the military and what branch just by the way they walk talk and look. The civilians that work here let there power go to their heads. I had this fat ***** tell me I was young and ignorant today. I can't help it I'm 24 and landed a good paying job. WTF is wrong with these people.

JagsIndy
08-05-06, 07:21 AM
Bige1371, I hear you. The federal prison I am currently at just went though a huge expansion to a FCC operation. I was part of the quite a few of the panel interview for new officers. Very disappointing in those who applied. The non-military applicants had no clue as to how to handle an interview, and several submitted paperwork/applicantion completed in pencil! Poorly dressed for the interview-I mean jeans and t-shirts, polo shirts, and for quite a few poor abilities to present themselves. Most had no experience to speak of.

The veterans did better with Marines setting a fine example. Most former Marines showed up in suits and dealt with questions in a typical Marine manner.

Don't get too freaked out over your co-workers and above who never had the balls to take the opportunity to serve. Those folks have to work somewhere, so use their weaknesses to get ahead. I show up every day for work with a squared away uniform (o.k. I am no longer wearing the work uniform), complete all paperwork and logs in a detailed manner, and developed a solid rep. A lot of officers turn into slobs, shirk work, and hide behind the union to get money for them when they do no work. The local union here won a settlement for $9 million based on shift starting and stopping times. About $20k per member. Screw that, I give extra time for work and have done well.

The Marine attitude works in the civilian side! I'd rather move up with promotions and get real money that will last into retirement. This results in a lot more than the $20k! The lazy folks just help you look good. USE THIS! Learn something new each day, read and increase job knowledge every day, and always keep yourself looking sharp. It works.

Just be patient and use a lot of smooth talking. I was close to getting thumped when I started so I just refined things... got slick, and I have passed all the supervisors who were intimidated by us veterans that started back then. This has resulted in some praise over the years from some senior staff. You never know who notices things. They are looking for leaders, not just "managers."

You'll be fine.

By the way, if your at the MDC your new exec is one of those civilians...

10thzodiac
08-05-06, 07:25 AM
After a few slob jobs I went to Coyne Electrical School in Chicago shortly after getting out of the service Under the GI Bill. I put my nose to the grind stone and was an honor graduate. In my eyes...

Bige1371
08-07-06, 12:26 AM
Thanks for the advice JagsIndy.

Old Marine
08-07-06, 08:12 AM
Most of the civilian types who have jobs these days are only there for the paycheck. If you mention customer service they think that is some foreign language. Most want to be supervisor within a month of being hired on and do not have a clue as to their quality of work. The majority of the time when you call to have a question answered you end up having to walk them through the process yourself and would have been better off not even making the phone call. (That's if you get to talk to a real person) It's no wonder companies file for chapter 11 daily.

OLE SARG
08-07-06, 08:57 AM
I agree Old Marine, most people today have a job and not a CAREER!!!!

SEMPER FI,

10thzodiac
08-07-06, 09:20 AM
Most of the civilian types who have jobs these days are only there for the paycheck. If you mention customer service they think that is some foreign language. Most want to be supervisor within a month of being hired on and do not have a clue as to their quality of work. The majority of the time when you call to have a question answered you end up having to walk them through the process yourself and would have been better off not even making the phone call. (That's if you get to talk to a real person) It's no wonder companies file for chapter 11 daily.

I called "The Home Depot" once in my complaint in a post above in this thread about problems I was having with a garage door install from them. You probably guessed by the word outsourcing that I got connected to a guy that sounded like he was talking English but wasn't. I was talking to some guy in Bombay India for a garage door problem, do they even have garage doors in India?

Not that he helped but the Better Business Bureau Atlanta did and I wound up getting me a $400.00 refund on labor with their help!

Eric Hood
08-08-06, 10:28 AM
This is one of the aspects of our mindset that makes us distinct. We want to do the job in the best possible way and be proud of our work. We are a very distinct and special breed-U.S. Marines.
Semper Fidelis,
Eric

CJP
10-20-06, 02:45 AM
Gentlemen,

At the other side of atlantic in (Belgium) is work ethic not better. As former reservist (Infantry Squad Leader) and now commercial supervisor, I tried once to explain the concept of effectiveness as I shoud do with my men but with the diplomatic and tactful way needed in this case. Civilians looked at me as I was coming from hell. Esprit de corps means nothing and you have to know that our mother language is french (?!?).

Courage mes amis !

CPJ

kentmitchell
10-20-06, 05:12 AM
The joke was on them in the end.
As you begin to get near retirement the "deep thinkers" up above try to put pressure on you to get out early. You get the crappy assignments with long hours, etc.
None of the wusses had ever served in the military, much less the Corps, and their idea of make things tough was a joke. Everytime I'm in a rough spot in life, I just think back to the period Oct. 25, 1956-Jan. 19, 1957 at Parris Island and realize that nothing since has ever been worse.
Of course, the wusses didn't know that. Never will.
And they'll never know the pride of being a Marine, either.
Oh well, EVERYONE can't be a Marine.

10thzodiac
10-20-06, 09:22 AM
When I worked at Brach Candies in a shop of twenty-five electricians there was always someone trying to either put you down or outshine you. I was the only electrician ever hired in as an “A” Electrician, most start as a “B”or "C". Needless to say everybody was watching me jealously. I got some praise from a few electricians but most were ready to put me down to the point of out right lying about my skills behind my back.
<O:p></O:p>
The <ST1:place>Union</ST1:place> said there was too many “B” electricians compared to "A"s. So the biggest liar (army) took the “A” Electrician test and did not even get one question right. They made him an “A”. It helps to go fishing with the Foreman. Later though not qualified as an "A" they promoted him as my shift supervisor, because he was a suck ass and could be controlled. I had aced the “A” electrician test when hired with no wrong answers.
<O:p></O:p>
Well there was another jealous “A” electrician (army, Big Red One) who had the bosses ear that always was sabotaging others who he perceived threatened him later on for a management position. Of course, when he got into management he tried firing me several times, lol. He would always give me the most difficult and dirtiest jobs to try to make me quit. A dogface soldier make a Marine quit, never! I stayed as long as I wanted too, until at age, 40, and my own business refrigerator repair was up and running, which I did well at and retired at age 53.
<O:p></O:p>
Brach fell on hard times and they started cutting management. At this time, they called my former boss into the front office who was now superintendent of the whole maintenance department, 250 men. The company had a security guard escort him to his desk and locker then out the door. ROFLMFAO.
<O:p></O:p>
I had a black friend (Army 7<SUP>th</SUP> <ST1:place><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City>Calvary</st1:City>, <st1:country-region>Nam</st1:country-region></ST1:place>) there whom I as a union steward got his “A” electrician promotion with two years back pay through the US Department of Labor on Discrimination. They were always trying to fire him as bad as me, he stayed till Brach’s closed their doors in Chicago laying off a total work force of around 2, 500. My black friend early on was perceived by our peer then, the above superintendent as a threat to him; because he was black and the company was promoting allot of blacks into management because of Reverend Jesse Jackson. <O:p></O:p>

The Industrial Relations manager who I befriended when union steward at Brachs (unlikely friendship between opposite sides of labor) called me a couple of times to fix refrigerators that he owned. He told me at Brach's I had a reputation as a stand up guy, I knew that, I was a Marine. Bruce is now a VP for Newly Weds. Don't let the company's name fool you or what they do. http://www.bakingbusiness.com/bs/channel.asp?ArticleID=16328

lucien2
10-20-06, 11:48 AM
When we recruit we are looking specifically for prior military, (USMC or USA) because they understand the imporatnce of "accomplishing the mission".