A Matter of Honor

When people find out I am a veteran, the questions come, I deflect, and people don't understand. So, let me explain.

My introduction to the military was as a freshman in college watching ROTC cadets rappel off the science center. It looked like fun so I joined ROTC. One thing lead to another and, with Bachelors degree in hand, I was commissioned and on active duty soon after graduation.

Active duty. I saw this as a 3 year opportunity to see the world and advance my education. Add in the fact that I'd get a paycheck and it was a mighty good deal for a college kid with some debt and a Biology degree. 

For me, this was a job - a temporary gig.

It wasn't long before I realized that for others, this was so much more.

This was their life and, even as my 3 years turned into 10, I knew in my heart it wasn't ever going to be mine. 

I was single, on my own and with no particular place to be. I didn't give up anything (other than a social life) yet there were sacrifices being made all around me. From the supply sergeant's wife who threw herself into Girl Scouts so she and the girls had something to carry them through the absences, the drill sergeant (psycho-like to new recruits) who kept his daughter's teddy bear in his desk drawer, and the commander who, missing most of her children's birthdays, vowed not ever miss those of her grandchildren - tough heart-wrenching choices were made everyday. 

There was sacrifice but there was not sadness. There was honor and there was inspiration. People question how a mother could leave her children to deploy yet I understand. It's not a black and white "you have to because it's your job," but a deep inner understanding of being part of something bigger than yourself.

And I got to be a part of that. Yes, I served but it's more than that. In between training, leading, commanding and teaching, I honored the commitment, the sacrifice and the honor of the American soldier and of the military family. 

Connect with a soldier or a military family today.

  Photo credit iStockphoto

Project: Social

Start with an idea, tweet it out, build on a reply, mix in two HR pros with a mission and a little magic and what do you get? Project: Social.

Spearheaders Victorio Milian and Ben Eubanks see Project: Social as way to develop HR pro understanding of social media and to bridge the digital divide within the HR profession.

It's a wonderful project.

And I'm in.

Sort of like an HR-version of Match.com, Ben and Victorio paired up volunteer mentors and mentees of similiar skills, abilities, interests and needs.

My partner in crime is William (Bill) Gould. Bill is a Human Resources leader in the health care industry with 11 years of HR leadership experience who blogs at HRSoot.  At first glance, we are a pretty good match as Minnesota based (you betcha) human resource leaders in health care.

As I spoke to Bill for the first time, I realized there is more. We were both cave dwellers.

Until my leap into social media, I too was living my professional life in a cave. As Bill so perfectly wrote in his newest post #ProjectSocial - Why Should I be Social Now?, "I had been avoiding the HR network largely because there are many things about our profession (and yes, some good people in our profession) that drive me crazy – I elected to go the course alone (e.g., I have never been to a HR conference)."

I tend to want to retreat to the cave but the pull of connection won't . . .let. . . me. . . stay. . . there too long.

I've felt the tug and pull of posting or not, quality over quantity, and even the horror of deleting my blog. I've been everywhere along the social media spectrum from dreaming in 140 character soundbites on one end to social media nips and tucks at the other. 

After 4 years (or is it 5?) of social media use  - I know things. 

I want to share.

I want to learn.

And I want to bridge. I want to bridge the social media gap between what HR pros read, what they question and what they do. I want to bridge the gap between #trenchHR and #strategicHR.

I want to take another giant leap away from the cave and make a difference and Project: Social is one way that I can do this. So, join us on our adventures as we define our deliverables and, because accountability is king, set milestones and time frames.  

Interested in being a Project: Social mentor or a mentee? Check out this Project: Social link to find out how.