This month, I’m celebrating nine years as a federal, GS civilian employee. Fellow 1035s, join in the conversation … here are a few things I think I think about life as a civilian Public Affairs staff officer and deputy PAO:
- Civilians are good for continuity, but that doesn’t mean resisting change. Your team ought to evolve to keep pace with the rest of your organization, and the media environment, and our enemies. As a civilian, you’re in a position to drive and control this evolution by harnessing your organization’s strengths. We don’t exist to prevent change from happening.
- When you highlight yourself as different, you highlight yourself as an outcast. Avoid conversations in your team which highlight or imply separation from you and uniformed counterparts. Instead, reinforce the values we share regardless of status: honesty, candor, health, and so on. Most of all, when you’re focused on mission, administrative and bureaucratic differences matter less.
- We don’t hold rank. Remove your pay grade, or retired rank, from your signature block. It’s not about you; build a reputation for getting things done and your name will speak for itself.
- Civilians can focus on operations, too. Just because you’re the team’s “continuity” or whatever doesn’t mean you can’t sit in the JOC or work on the most direct parts of your mission. This brings me too…
- Even the most non-operational jobs help operations. If you’re in a more institutional place, like TRADOC or a garrison command, you’re still there to protect America. Value your role, and help connect your organization to the bigger picture. Haven’t you heard the good news?
- Hit refresh. We’re in it for the long haul, and we’re probably going to deal with some redundant situations if we stay in one place long enough. Know this is part of the job, and relish it, but build in some time to step away and stretch. Attend a course or take a developmental assignment to get some new perspective. Even if you have to plan it years in advance, the anticipation will keep you fresh.
- We’re not entitled to upgrades or promotions. I’ve worked with plenty of folks with hurt feelings because they work hard but didn’t get automatic upgrades to higher pay grades. I’ve also seen organizations promote from within because it avoided short-term drama, ultimately introducing other, long-term drama. The system don’t work that way, my friend. Sure, hard workers may get step increases or other awards, but if you really want to move up, find and compete for positions, and be ready to move.
- Help the institution. Go talk to a DINFOS class. Start a blog. Meet and mentor other civilians (or anyone else). You’ll learn lots about yourself, and where you stand on important issues, along the way.
- Don’t forget your organization’s non-Public Affairs civilian employees, you’ll be working with them forever, too. If you’re like me, you’re the only 1035 in your organization. Bring some confidence and mission-focus to your civilian community’s culture; we can be leaders, not just PA leaders.
- Seniority is important, but doesn’t earn you the deciding vote. Give our military PA leaders your best advice and options, but recognize who’s in charge. We need civilian employees with experience and insight, but we don’t need them setting up shadow PA networks based on their own agenda.
More to follow. I’ll let you know what else I’ve learned in another nine years.
(Photo by Richard Salomon, DVIDS)
