thedrifter
02-23-07, 08:45 AM
Business leaders, Marines swap secrets
By: SHANNON WINGARD - For the North County Times
About 300 successful entrepreneurs from across Southern California spent time this week at Camp Pendleton getting a glimpse of Marine Corps training while learning the plus sides of hiring troops who have just left the military.
For the first time, members of San Diego and Los Angeles chapters of a group called The Entrepreneur Organization teamed up with the Marines on Wednesday to learn how military leadership, confidence and team-building techniques could be translated to the civilian sector.
Later that night, the group was briefed on an organization called Hire a Hero, a not-for-profit organization that matches prospective employers with those formerly wearing active duty uniforms.
Shaun Alger, who organized the event for the entrepreneurs, said he believes that the two groups share a lot in common.
Since the Marine Corps relies on fewer resources and manpower than the other armed services to get the job done, he said he believes businessmen and women can learn a lot from the Corps.
"It's like entrepreneurship ---- you do the most with the least," said Alger, the CEO of the Carlsbad-based company CompleteComm, which recently merged with My Office in Miramar.
Those who attended learned about training techniques and philosophies used by the Marine Corps, and eventually took part in some of their basic training exercises.
The business men and women were divided into four different groups that witnessed a range of things, from live fire to martial arts to tactical vehicle exercises.
Some entrepreneurs, who were in a group focused on the recruits' training, did take home at least one lesson ---- don't mess with drill instructors.
As the group filed out of their buses, they were received in boot-camp style by numerous screaming Marines who had the 'recruits' lined up shoulder-to-shoulder and shouting "Aye, aye sir!" in unison within minutes.
Sgt. John Lopez, one of the drill instructors, said the experience "should give them an idea of what the kids go through."
"It's an eye-opener," Lopez added.
Lt. Col. Hal Sellers, who spoke with the group about recruit training, said many of the techniques are intended to show that "if you do not work together as a team, then you will fail."
Later, that same group got a chance to practice the advice they were given.
They were divided into groups of 10 that had to accomplish obstacle course-like tasks. Each task focused on working together to get the job done.
According to Burke Jones, president of Total Document Solutions in Claremont and owner of several UPS stores, the team-building exercises were invaluable.
"Running a company is all about motivating people and working toward the common goal," he said, adding that he plans to instill "those core values" into his own business practices.
Another goal of the event was to show business owners the benefits of deciding to use the Hire a Hero service.
Dan Caulfield, executive director of Hire a Hero, said he created the organization for two reasons: he is both an entrepreneur and a former Marine.
Caulfield, a Gulf War veteran who established the Carlsbad-based consulting business High Quality Group in 1999, said the company is working together with the Armed Forces Support Foundation to oversee the program.
Because the company originally created the Helmets to Hardhats program, which is now federally funded, he said the same model was used for the Hire a Hero program, which focuses on 22- to 24-year old service members who are getting out of the military.
Although the program was only established in January, Caulfield said it already has "tens of thousands" of employers who are listed on its web site, hireahero.com.
Caulfield said the organization focuses on younger people because of the disparity between young veterans' unemployment rate and that of their non-military peers.
"The promise is that America will appreciate their service," he said.
Caulfield said informing the public on what former military members can offer is the key to creating change.
"I am looking to educate people on what the military has to offer, and to make it as easy as possible to hire them," he said.
Ellie
By: SHANNON WINGARD - For the North County Times
About 300 successful entrepreneurs from across Southern California spent time this week at Camp Pendleton getting a glimpse of Marine Corps training while learning the plus sides of hiring troops who have just left the military.
For the first time, members of San Diego and Los Angeles chapters of a group called The Entrepreneur Organization teamed up with the Marines on Wednesday to learn how military leadership, confidence and team-building techniques could be translated to the civilian sector.
Later that night, the group was briefed on an organization called Hire a Hero, a not-for-profit organization that matches prospective employers with those formerly wearing active duty uniforms.
Shaun Alger, who organized the event for the entrepreneurs, said he believes that the two groups share a lot in common.
Since the Marine Corps relies on fewer resources and manpower than the other armed services to get the job done, he said he believes businessmen and women can learn a lot from the Corps.
"It's like entrepreneurship ---- you do the most with the least," said Alger, the CEO of the Carlsbad-based company CompleteComm, which recently merged with My Office in Miramar.
Those who attended learned about training techniques and philosophies used by the Marine Corps, and eventually took part in some of their basic training exercises.
The business men and women were divided into four different groups that witnessed a range of things, from live fire to martial arts to tactical vehicle exercises.
Some entrepreneurs, who were in a group focused on the recruits' training, did take home at least one lesson ---- don't mess with drill instructors.
As the group filed out of their buses, they were received in boot-camp style by numerous screaming Marines who had the 'recruits' lined up shoulder-to-shoulder and shouting "Aye, aye sir!" in unison within minutes.
Sgt. John Lopez, one of the drill instructors, said the experience "should give them an idea of what the kids go through."
"It's an eye-opener," Lopez added.
Lt. Col. Hal Sellers, who spoke with the group about recruit training, said many of the techniques are intended to show that "if you do not work together as a team, then you will fail."
Later, that same group got a chance to practice the advice they were given.
They were divided into groups of 10 that had to accomplish obstacle course-like tasks. Each task focused on working together to get the job done.
According to Burke Jones, president of Total Document Solutions in Claremont and owner of several UPS stores, the team-building exercises were invaluable.
"Running a company is all about motivating people and working toward the common goal," he said, adding that he plans to instill "those core values" into his own business practices.
Another goal of the event was to show business owners the benefits of deciding to use the Hire a Hero service.
Dan Caulfield, executive director of Hire a Hero, said he created the organization for two reasons: he is both an entrepreneur and a former Marine.
Caulfield, a Gulf War veteran who established the Carlsbad-based consulting business High Quality Group in 1999, said the company is working together with the Armed Forces Support Foundation to oversee the program.
Because the company originally created the Helmets to Hardhats program, which is now federally funded, he said the same model was used for the Hire a Hero program, which focuses on 22- to 24-year old service members who are getting out of the military.
Although the program was only established in January, Caulfield said it already has "tens of thousands" of employers who are listed on its web site, hireahero.com.
Caulfield said the organization focuses on younger people because of the disparity between young veterans' unemployment rate and that of their non-military peers.
"The promise is that America will appreciate their service," he said.
Caulfield said informing the public on what former military members can offer is the key to creating change.
"I am looking to educate people on what the military has to offer, and to make it as easy as possible to hire them," he said.
Ellie