I had the honor of speaking with Brigadier General Tammy Smith, U.S. Army
Reserve Command Deputy Chief of Staff at the Equality Summit in Orlando sponsored
by Out & Equal and Disney. I asked
Gen. Smith a few questions about the value reservists bring to the civilian
workforce, how their “day jobs” help support the mission of the U.S. Army and
how spouses contribute as well.
Scott’s Question: What is your best
insight for how to quantify and explain the value of Army Reserve experience on
a civilian résumé?
BG Smith: We have the same translation problem… “How do
I tell people what I do with my military skills?” What we try to do, especially with the
reservists, is to put them in a position where what they do in their reserve
job amplifies their contribution to the civilian workforce. Whether that may be a technical skill that
works in both workplaces, especially like our bio-med folks, what they do in
reserve quite often is what they do in their civilian jobs. And where it doesn’t cross over, it’s how do
you find that “leader niche.” We have a
greater preponderance of technical personnel and so we try and market that on
behalf of our reservists.
Scott’s Added Insight: No matter what your MOS is, be sure to highlight
your technical skills. Tell your
civilian recruiter “I am a P.A.T.R.I.O.T.”:
Scott’s Question: What are some
qualities that help the most successful reservists balance their reserve duties
with their civilian careers?
BG Smith: You’ve got to have a good conversation with your
family about what the responsibilities are because this is a “team sport.” You’re not in it by yourself. You have to be honest also with your unit
when you get to a place that might prevent you from “being all that you can be.” Be honest about it. We encourage [reservists] to be honest right
up front so your chain of command can anticipate that maybe you can’t come to
your battle assembly… because of school, finals, whatever it is. Just have those honest conversations.
Scott’s Question: Is that part of what people describe as the “new
Army” where there’s more of this consciousness of respect between personal
balance and what your service duties are?
BG Smith: I think we’re trying to
adapt a bit to what we perceive as the millennial generation wanting to
understand context in their choices. It’s
all about the retention. They have
choices, it’s an all-volunteer service, and I think that’s a bit of our
adaptation and learning best practices and talent management.
Scott’s Question: Have you seen Army Reserve
experience help soldiers in their civilian careers?
BG Smith: Absolutely! In the Army Reserve we have this internship
where [companies] train [reservists] and get them certified in taking care of
medical equipment which is the same type of certifications they need in their
Army reserve job. And we have a leg up at [certain companies] to
help you get this particular type of training.
Scott’s Added Insight: Remember, internships
and specialized training can also be included on your résumé when they’re
related to the job for which you’re applying.
Scott’s Question: How often do you think
civilian careers help to bring new skills and abilities to the Army Reserve?
BG Smith: All the time! The thing
that I wish we had better is how to catalog that talent, those discreet
skills of the force. We know what their
particular military skills, but might not have the ability to reach in to know
[all of their civilian skills.]
Scott’s Added Insight: Share with your military leaders details about
skills that you feel you bring from your civilian career to the military. General Smith also shared that having your
commanders understand these skills can be helpful from a security perspective
and for contingency response.
Scott’s Question: How has the end of
Don't Ask Don't Tell affected the career aspirations of LGBT service members
led by your example [as the first openly LGBT general officer in the United
States Armed Forces]?
BG Smith: I hear from a lot of them who say “Now I know
I can do this.” Where a lot of people
would have gone and said [they’ve] done their term, I’m proud to serve but “I
can’t live my life this way.” But now
your life in the military can be just as good as your life [in a civilian
career.]
I get notes from folks
all the time. One that rings true to
your question is [from when] Tracey and I were attending the national Memorial
Day Parade and I got a Facebook note later from a soldier who said “Ma’am, you
don’t know me but I was at the Memorial Day Parade – I saw you and Tracey in
the stands. My fiancé and I happened to
be in D.C. because we were coming there to get married. When I saw you I knew that one day I could be
a command sergeant major and I could be on that stand too.” That’s an example of perhaps what has shifted
in some folks’ minds.
It’s now been almost 4
years since repeal and I’ve met a lot of young people, 2nd
lieutenants and such, who didn’t go in [to the Army initially] but now that [DADT
has] been repealed [they realize] “I can go in now – and I don’t have to go
back in the closet to serve.” And we
perhaps have had a little bit of up-tick on those individuals who were not
willing to do that trade off in their lives in order to serve. Now they don’t have to, so it’s been
wonderful.
Scott’s Question: Your wife Tracey Hepner is the co-founder
of the Military Partners and
Families Coalition and a proud military spouse. What
have you both experienced about how LGBT spouses and partners add to the
vibrancy of the military community?
BG Smith: Her experience has been tremendous. When we look back on what has been that most
significant thing – there’s a lot of them.
We live on post. We live in
military family housing. Our reception
has just been incredible. [Other
military families] knock on our door when we arrive and they bring us
cookies! What many other families take
for granted as “I don’t want to live on post – it’s like living in a fish bowl”
has been one of the richest experiences of my entire military career. To actually be part of the true military family
and knowing that when I’m [traveling or gone] Tracey’s going to be fine because
she’s got all her friends now in the neighborhood who understand exactly what
her life experience is – because it’s their life experience too: living with a
soldier.
Scott’s Added Insight:
Military spouses can and should explain on their résumés “I am a P.A.T.R.I.O.T.”
and should highlight skills they’ve learned while supporting a family member in
the military.
