Author: Dabney Weems
On Monday, the Department of Public Safety will proudly celebrate Veterans Day and say “thank you” to the men and women who have served our country, especially to the more than 2,600 veterans who work at DPS. These individuals have sacrificed for their country and continue to serve the public after their tour of duty.
The branches of the military perform an outstanding job preparing men and women to protect our country, and many of the skills they learn in the military transfers to their work at DPS. In turn, DPS is fortunate to have skilled personnel on staff who serve the people of North Carolina. The skills veterans learn through their service and bring to their work at DPS include:
Leadership
Leaders motivate a group to a common goal. There’s more to it though. They are visionaries, courageous, inspirational, managers and more. In military situations, a leader must be able to convince their team that the choices and decisions made are for the overall success of the mission/project.
Teamwork
“You are only as strong as your weakest link,” is especially true in the military. Veterans understand project success begins with the ability to collaborate and work together. Success is dependent on being a team player. They are trained to keep the mission as the number one priority and to do what it takes interpersonally to achieve the goal of the final project.
Strong work ethic
Perseverance is key with military operations. Squads must complete tasks to help ensure a successful mission. No matter how long, cold, miserable – the job must be completed. Veterans understand what it means to work hard and persevere to complete a task, because at times, their life and the lives of others may depend on it.
Integrity
Integrity is about doing what’s legally and morally right. Soldiers must have integrity to build trust among those around them. Without integrity, leaders have a difficult time leading, and teamwork is also more difficult.
Critical thinking and performance under pressure
Military service members must be able to quickly make decisions and solve problems to ensure the safety of their team and the success of their tasks. Soldiers are taught to thoroughly analyze all pieces of information before making a decision. They also understand how to work with tight deadlines and limited resources.
Understand health and safety standards
Veterans have extensive training with health and safety protocols. This translates well to DPS, especially when working with the public during natural disasters and other emergencies. They also are accustomed to working in a drug-free environment and place importance on their overall fitness.
These skills have served the military for more than 200 years, and they have found their place at DPS. They are traits that have built leaders for our country, and they are also characteristics that we admire and value. It is no coincidence that we are better off because of its military personnel and veterans. Thank you to our veterans who served to protect our country.