In 1986, the U.S. Department of Labor established the National Veterans' Training Institute (NVTI) at the University of Colorado at Denver. In 2015, NVTI produced a 2-page document titled "21 Strengths Arising from Military Experience" listing out specific strengths that many veterans have acquired and used in the uniformed service.
From this list of strengths, missionary organizations (organizations focused on the Great Commission) could benefit in having personnel at every level of their organization that exhibit these 12 specific strengths extracted out of the NVTI's list of 21.
1. Leadership Training: The military trains people to accept and discharge responsibility for other people, for activities, for resources, and for one's own behavior. This training includes setting an example, giving carefully considered directions, inspiring leadership capabilities in others, and continually motivating other personnel in the group.
2. Ability to Work as a Team Member and as a Team Leader: Essential to the military experience is the ability to work as a member of a team. Almost all military activity is performed with the assistance, coordination and awareness of other persons or other units. Many military personnel serve as team leaders where they have analyzed situations and options, made appropriate decisions, given directions, followed through with a viable plan, and accepted responsibility for the outcome.
3. Ability to Get Along with and Work with All Types of People: The Government attracts all types of Americans regardless of race, gender, economic status, age, religion, attitude, intelligence, or physical conditions. In the Service, military personnel have worked for and with people of all types of backgrounds, attitudes and characteristics. This experience has prepared service members and their families to work with all types of people on a continuing basis.
4. Ability to Work Under Pressure and to Meet Deadlines: One definite characteristic of the military service is that service members must perform. They must do their job, do it right the first time and do it in a timely manner. They are continuously setting priorities, meeting schedules and accomplishing their missions. Pressure and stress are built into this, but service members are taught how to deal with all these factors in a positive and effective manner.
5. Ability to Give and Follow Directions: People in the military know how to work under supervision and can relate and respond favorably to others. They understand accountability for their actions and for their subordinates' actions. They also understand and use discipline in their lives and when dealing with others. They have learned to respect and accept legitimate authority.
6. Systematic Planning and Organization: Most military operations require thorough planning and workload management. Carefully considered objectives, strengths and limitations of other people, resources, time schedules, supplies, logistics, and various other factors are always considered. Organization, evaluation and adjustment are continuously being assessed. The ability to participate, direct or establish systematic planning is highly valued in business.
7. Flexibility and Adaptability: All individuals in the service have learned to be flexible and adaptable to meet the constantly changing needs of any situation and mission. Last minute changes are not uncommon in any military or civilian working environment. Also based on their military background, former soldiers are able to adapt quickly to physical and safety demands.
8. Self-Direction: Many service members understand difficult and often complex issues and solve these issues or problems on the spot without step-by-step guidance from above.
9. Initiative: Many military personnel have the ability to originate a plan of action or task to answer and solve many unusual problems regarding supplies, logistics, resources and transportation.
10. Work Habits: People in the military stay and finish their projects and are known and are recognized for completing their missions in a timely fashion and in an effective, efficient manner. These work habits are a definite result of social maturity, integrity, determination and self-confidence that they have learned, earned and experienced in their military service. Their military background has instilled pride, enthusiasm and perseverance for their work. This constitutes their eligibility and recognition for promotion.
11. Standards of Quality and Commitment to Excellence: Service personnel are continually striving to attain and surpass their standards of quality for themselves and their units. These standards of quality are meeting their unit's mission, training standards, physical requirements and educational goals. There is a commitment to excellence in all of these fields.
12. Global Outlook: Many people in the military have been stationed and served their country in various locations around the world. This residency and international experience have broadened their outlooks in regards to customs, economies, languages and cultures of other countries.
