Suggestions
for a Successful Career
1. It's your career. You must manage your own
career. Set goals for the next 3 to 5 years. Don't leave your
career to chance, with its potential for disappointment. A career
plan is least effective when kept to yourself. Communicate your
goals and desires to your commanding officer and other senior
officers during formal and informal counseling. If you don't care
about your career, no one else may!
2. Seek challenging
assignments.
Each reserve JAG should seek challenging unit and Annual Training
assignments. Within your unit, continually strive for increased
levels of responsibility. Movement from Administrative Officer to
Training Officer to Executive Officer to Commanding Officer is a
model. Do not "homestead" one billet for several years;
it fails to benefit you and also hurts other officers who need
billet rotation. Be sure to report your civilian and military
specialties to OJAG Code 62 for listing in the Reserve JAG
directory.
3. Develop career breadth. Although each reserve
billet has certain technical qualifications, do not specialize to
the point of undermining career breadth. A senior officer should
have wide technical knowledge and an overall management
perspective. Leadership ability is key to selection for command
and success in a command tour.
4. Support the Reserve
year-round.
Reserve units have only limited hours together to accomplish
mobilization training. The Senior Judge Advocate, SJAs and COs
appreciate officers who work off-drill on special projects, or
who attend gaining command functions. Success in the Reserve
requires more than just one drill weekend per month.
5. Know your service record. You are responsible for the
contents of your record. Ensure it is complete, reflecting your
attributes and achievements. You are only as good as your record
indicates. Some specific suggestions:
a. Use
fitness reports effectively. At counseling sessions and near the end of
each reporting period, give your reporting senior the details
showing your performance and professional development. Be
specific; quantify, don't generalize. Throughout the year record
(on your personal calendar or elsewhere) your work and training
as accomplished. Keep a file of your work product. Be sure your
CO knows what you accomplished during Annual Training (though you
receive a separate AT fitness report).
b. Check
that your record has all important documents. Indifference to your record
suggests indifference to promotion. Common discrepancies: missing
fitness reports; out-of-date photograph; absent data on college
degrees; service schools, personal decorations, etc.; gaps in
recurring forms (such as the annual Naval Reserve Qualification
Questionnaire (NRPC 1200/1), which you should always TYPE).
c. Remember that in addition to the
official record in Washington, your reserve center maintains a
service record on you. Keep it up to date, too.
6. Look Sharp. Keep up your personal PT
program year round. Spend the necessary time and money to keep a
sharp appearance. Beware of uniforms that shrink, whites that
turn gray, and shoes that yellow. Don't think like a civilian
when it comes to haircuts. Keep on hand several copies of a good
full length photo that doesn't look like a mug shot -- even if
you have to go to a commercial photographer to get it. To
mail-order uniform items, call 800-368-4088.
Summary: Career planning and execution are your responsibilities. While there is no absolute formula, selection boards favor those who seek challenging assignments, demonstrate leadership, assume increased responsibility over the years, support the Reserve, and document their records.