Life after SEAL: what are the typical professions afterwards? Most folks either go into business for themselves (a lot of casrpenters and bar owners)or get into the government contracting world--
What percentage would you say go into leadership/management positions? Somewhere around 100% in one way or another--not very good at being managed.
what percentage go into miltary-related training positions? Over 50% law enforcement?Not a lot--and those that do usually don't last--it is a different discipline that doesn't really match consulting? Well, me for one---most find it easier to go with a known consulting group like Blackwater
what is the profile (professionally and personality-wise)of someone who goes on to leadership training? Well, I think it is someone who is confident and believes that they have insight, based on experience that could be of value to others.
typical length of time as a SEAL? about 15 years--though that average is creeping up and will be twenty pretty soon
What's your opinion of leadership training as a SEAL vs. Navy vs. any other military branch/division? Any one over the other? and why? Kind of tough. I actually think that I got more leadership experience in the regular Navy than in the SEALs or EOD because in the regular Navy you had a broader cross section of people and they were not nearly as motivated---so in the Teams, though you had leadership challenges they you were always dealing with a pretty motivated highly trained person--so it was generally easier. The military doesn't really do a lot of leadership training--they just put you in charge of progressively larger groups of people
What are the main differences in military vs. non-military leadership training? Since no one owns things in the military, you get put in charge of really complicated, expense things quickly. No way a civilian company would have a 22 year old soley responsiblle for driving a 26000ton ship, but the navy does it all the time
It looks like there are formal training programs on leadership. Is there one considered THE best? I recommend Offshore Consulting!
Can you point me towards any good military-based leadership books? We were soldiers once and young--you have to read into it but it was good--also band of brothers
Any other insight on military leadership you want to share?
I think the biggest thing is that the system is really good at create leaders and very bad at promoting them. In the beginning it is about "your" people, but once you get to the Colonel/Captain/General level, it is about pleasing the people above you, not doing the right thing. I have only worked for Two Admirals that I thought were worth a cr@p--of course, I am jaded.