Serving the public as a career

Every year many Samoans join the military, many straight out of high school. The main goal of the military is to fight wars and many Samoans join combat units who take the fight to America's enemy. But the military also provides great opportunities, for those joining its ranks, to gain useful trade skills. The military also offers other benefits that civilians have to pay a lot more for, like medical benefits, education, and housing.

Besides the uniformed military, there is also a large civilian structure that provides the support backbone to the war-fighters. I encourage Samoans to consider the Federal government as they look for job opportunities. The civilian force is a critical component to the success of the military. From scientists who help design new weapons to personnel clerks who make sure our men and women in the military are paid on time. The list of careers in the defense area are many and varied.

If you are a recent college graduate, you might consider a career in the public service and contribute to the defense of the Nation. Here is a sample list of organizations who provide direct support to the military.

A defense related job requires a clearance with background investigation. This can be a lengthy process, but if you are a military veteran most likely you had a clearance during active duty and that might make the process for you easier.

To start your job search, go to USAJobs.gov. USAJobs.gov is the primary focal point for Defense department job announcements, from budget planners in the Pentagon to communication specialists supporting war-fighters in the forward echelons.

For some extra help, you may want to get Mr. Simpson's 'Secrets to Getting a Government Job'. It costs only $10.

Public service is a career that wont make you wealthy, and many people do frown on it. But as a public servant myself, especially working for a DoD organization serving the war-fighters, I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I'm doing my small part in the defense of the country.

Federal civilian work is diverse in terms of different specialties, localities and size of organizations, and ethnicity of the workers. It is comparable to active military. You can find civilians work side-by-side with uniformed military where ever the military operates - humanitary assistance and direct combat operations. If you are a veteran, you may find it easy to adjust to Defense civilian work environment. I highly recommend you consider a public service career and continue serving the public from a different level.

For new college graduates, Federal employment provides tuition assistance and other educational opportunities.

Federal employment is not for everyone. Like jobs in the private domain, it is up to individuals to make their Federal careers successful. The days of secure work even in the Federal government is going away as the government is faced with budget constraints and political pressure. But even with these challenges, I still consider a public service career very rewarding and something you should consider if you are looking for a job or career change.

Good luck in your job search.

Pen Fiatoa

What makes a person successful?

A few months after graduating from high school in American Samoa, I decided to join the army. When I came to the Army recruiter's office I saw some of my classmates there. I noticed their surprise seeing me at the recruiter's office. Joining the military would have been the last thing anyone in my graduating class imagine me do. Their silence and puzzled expression was very evident of what they were thinking about as we stood in line. You see I was a fairly weakly lad in my youth, barely 140 pounds at 18 and non-athletic. In contrast, the average weight of students in my graduating class of mostly Samoans was around 200 pounds, and most of them very athletic.

In basic training I faced some very challenging situations because of my physical statue, but I completed it. One of the things I hated most in basic training was the monkey bar. I dreaded it. I didn't have much upper body strength. So what I did was doing extra exercise on the monkey bar after meals when there's pause in training. I pass! My score is nothing to brag about, but I passed the test.

In the obstacle course, I confronted my other worst fear - height. But I determined that that would not stop me from completing basic training. I listened to the Drill Instructor and observed the demonstration. I watched how other trainees performed and basically do what they did. I positioned my body on the line, locked one of my foot on the rope while loosely hung my other leg with my weapon dangling for balance. Pulled forward. Relaxed. Pulled forward. Relaxed. Did that until I got to the end of the rope. I wasn't the fastest. I wasn't the slowest. I just did it. I completed basic training. This was the same approach I took when doing repelling some years later.

After basic training, I headed off to AIT (that's Advanced Individual Training for you civilians). I faced some challenges there too. Part of my job as a communication specialist was typing. To complete the program, a person must pass a typing test. I've used a typewriter once for a term paper in high school, but it was basically using my index finger pressing one letter at a time. The Army typing test requires a lot faster speed than that. Here again, my focus was on completing the course. I listened to the instruction. Did the exercises and do that again, and again, and again. I passed the typing test and went on to complete AIT. I wasn't the top of my AIT class, but I DID IT. HUAH!

Is there a secret to success? I say yes. Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, I think that success is not limited to a few through some predestined prerogative; preordained talents. It's normal to see natural talents as the key to success, but I surmise that natural talent is just a small part of the equation.

I attended a seminar where a very successful businessman related a story about a conversation between him and a friend who he knew from youth. After work one day, he picked up his friend for a game of golf. His friend was a doctor, MD. On their way to the course, his friend asked the question, "How did we get to where we are today?" They were both very successfully in their careers. The speaker said he hesitated in answering his friend because it was typical of him to ask serious questions like that without already having an answer. After a moments pause, his friend said - "It's because we woke up and go to school." The speaker went on to say that to be successful in school is to wake up on time, go to class, listen and take notes, do the home work, and review notes before class. Do that again, and again, and again. Do that in high school, in college, in graduate school, and in your professional life. The end result is SUCCESS.

Then there was a story by a church leader who mentioned a friendship with an Air Force general. During a private conversation he told the general how he admired him and his success. To his remark, the general confided that he was proud of his success. Moreover, the general continued, he was just an average guy and his success was due to hard work. The church leader went on to say that it's important for everyone to set real goals and work hard to accomplish them. If we set our minds to plan goals and work hard to accomplish them, we'll be successful.

Success is not passing the big test. It's not getting accepted to a great college, or receiving awards. It's not about getting the ideal job, nor winning an election. Success is about improvement. It's the measured of ones commitment to completing the little things and doing it right. Success should not be the end of a process, but rather an opportunity for improvement and for starting new ones.

Until the next time...

Pen Fiatoa