What a Meteorology and Oceanography Officer at United States Navy Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Military Industry
Colleen wishes someone had told her that over-dedication to the Meteorology and Oceanography Officer role, while driven by a "you get out what you put in" mindset, can be detrimental to one's well-being and relationships. A commanding officer's advice to find balance, realizing "you can be replaced", shifted Colleen's perspective toward prioritizing self-care and personal connections to ensure long-term sustainability in the demanding industry.
Work-Life Balance, Self-Care, Industry Realities, Leadership, Personal Growth
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Colleen Wilmington
Meteorology and Oceanography Officer
United States Navy
University of Kansas
Naval Postgraduate School
English, Writing & Education
Government & Public Sector, Manufacturing, Operations & Supply Chain
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Veteran, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. The importance of work-life balance: Prioritizing your health, mental stability, and relationships alongside your career.
2. Understanding your worth: Recognizing that while dedication is valuable, you are replaceable and need to prioritize self-care to avoid burnout.
3. The value of continuity and growth: Recognizing the importance of continuity in a career field, but also realizing that growth opportunities are necessary at all levels.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
Before I answer, I'll share what I did before entering the industry. I often heard, "You get out what you put in." I frequently went all in, sometimes to the detriment of my health, mental stability, or relationships.
My husband had no idea when I would leave the office because I grew up with the understanding, "Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today." I applied this to my work, believing I needed to do things today to better support tomorrow. I didn't see the erosion this caused in my relationships.
This changed when I was expecting our first child. My commanding officer told the whole command, "You can be replaced." He wasn't being negative; he meant I needed to find balance. He explained I couldn't stay and continue to provide support without leaving the command for personal or professional growth.
As active duty, we know we will leave regularly. This makes continuity difficult, and we rely on our civilian or contractor counterparts to provide it. However, they need growth too. We can't expect them to stay in one career, especially without upward mobility.
The commander was trying to convey that you can't give your entire self to this industry. When you leave, you need a foundation of family, friends, or hobbies for self-care. It's about finding a balanced mindset.
Now, I use the phrase, "You can be replaced, and for many of us, you will be replaced," instead of "You get out what you put in." This helps convey that you have to take care of yourself to take care of the industry as a whole.
Advizer Personal Links
linkedin.com/in/colleen-wilmington