How Military Leadership Skills Help You Thrive in the Classroom

How Military Leadership Skills Help You Thrive in the Classroom

Are you an active military member looking to receive career training? Are you a veteran ready to pursue a new professional path?

Whether you’re starting school for the first time or resuming your courses upon return from duty, taking your next educational step is a major milestone. As you focus on your future, it’s important to remember: The skills you learned in the military can be extremely useful tools for the classroom and the workforce.

Ready to learn how? We’ll highlight how four traits you already possess can be used to enhance and develop the path to your next career.

1. Leadership

Military members have a wealth of leadership experience. Effective leaders know how to delegate tasks and enforce rules, as well as listen to the opinions and concerns of others.

In school, these leadership qualities will help you become a dynamic voice in classroom discussions, group learning activities and externship opportunities. You'll also contribute a team player attitude when learning alongside peers who might have differing opinions or would benefit from a veteran's real-world insights.

2. Commitment

Pursuing a diploma, certificate or degree is a commitment that can lead to a wider knowledge base, new skill sets, a strong network of peers and mentors and a fulfilling professional career. Unlike many of your peers who have not committed to serving their country, you have demonstrated your diligence.

You can call on your commitment at nearly every stage of your education—from submitting your application and attending classes to completing coursework and polishing your resume for potential employers. You've pledged yourself to your country, and an education will require you to make key promises to yourself, instructors and peers.

3. Diversity

As a veteran, you learned to work with and value people from varying cultures, lifestyles and regions of the world. Your respect for diversity makes you a valuable member of any career training program because it means you're capable of thriving in a diverse workforce.

As an individual who values diversity, you can actively contribute your unique perspectives as a member of the military in a classroom setting. This advantage prepares you to make lasting relationships with a network of peers, mentors, advisors and potential coworkers.

4. Hands-On Experience

In the military, your service was practical and efficient. At a career or trade school, you have the advantage of learning in a hands-on program where education happens in real time, not buried deep in the pages of a thick textbook.

Military experience prepares you to learn new skills and accept challenges with grace and grit, whether you're training behind the wheel of a truck or navigating clinical duties as a medical assistant. Your self-reliance, perseverance and knack for picking up a problem and solving it with your hands are all transferrable traits you can use during job training.

Military Students at Ohio Business College

We know figuring out next steps can raise questions for service members and veterans.

"It's challenging to sometimes transfer out of one part of your life into another," says Philip Larson, program director for veteran and military services at University of Michigan—Ann Arbor.1 Pursuing a new career can offer unique challenges for everyone, but it should not have to disrupt your life.

That’s why Ohio Business College is dedicated to maintaining a family atmosphere, knowledgeable Career Services experts and flexible class times. At OBC, we work hard to ensure we are a college for veterans and active service members. Our military-friendly campus and staff are here help you set and achieve your educational goals.

Browse our military resources for an enrollment checklist, FAQs and more. Contact us today with any questions.

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Sources:

1 USA News and World Report. “Transfer Military Skills to a College Major.” Nov. 11, 2013. Accessed Sept. 18, 2017. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2013/11/11/transfer-military-skills-to-a-college-major.