Updated PDP

Professional Development Plan

Mission –

To live a happy enjoyable life, while providing whatever my family needs to do the same.

Skills and Talents –

 I believe I am a level headed individual and can make critical decisions under high pressure situations.  I am very determined and pursue what I want until I have it.  Can stay optimistic in whatever situation I find myself in.  Place the needs of those I care about, or am in charge of above my own.

Self-awareness –

 My intelligence is probably lower than many other science major students in the country, so my work ethic needs to be greater to overcome that.

Short term goals (five years)

-          Graduate from stout

-          Go to officer candidate school / Warrant officer school

-          Possibly go to graduate school (figure out what I may like to do with my science degree)

-          Marry Glenna

-          Buy a House

-          Enjoy last years of college, and don’t worry about the future

Checkpoints for Short term goals – 

     -        Finish my Army physicians assistant packet by the end of the Spring semester.

     -         Graduate from Stout Next May.

Long term Goals (10 years)

-          Have children

-          Achieve the rank of Captain

-          Go on one more deployment

 

Strategy to achieve short term goals –

-          Graduate from Stout – Continue to strive for high grades, while gaining knowledge and enjoying my time at UW- Stout. 

1.       Graduate with a G.P.A above 3.5

2.       Do one research project

3.       Take as many classes that I can that interest me

4.       Graduate in the next 1.5 years

-          Go to officer candidate school / Warrant officer school

1.       Continue to learn from my superiors

2.       Continue to go to NCO academies until I go to OCS or WOS

-          Graduate school

1.       Keep all the knowledge I have gained at UW – Stout

2.       Find what my passion is in the science world

-          Marry Glenna

1.       Don’t piss her off more than I already do

-          Buy a House

1.       Continue to save

2.       Find an area Glenna and I would like to start a family

Strategy to achieve Long term goals –

-          Have children

-          Achieve the rank of Captain

1.       Learn from officers above me

2.       Maintain high PT scores

3.       Attend as many officer schools as I can

4.       Take all promotions even if a move is necessary

-          Go on one more deployment

1.       Serve one more time overseas to gain more experience

2.       Stay with my home unit if possible

Possible obstacles for all goals –

-          Graduate from Stout – Academic problems / drinking

-          Go to officer candidate school / Warrant officer school – Glenna

-          Possibly go to graduate school – I don’t know what I want to do

-          Marry Glenna - military

-          Buy a House - money

-          Have children -

-          Achieve the rank of Captain -

-          Go on one more deployment – Glenna

Plan to overcome obstacles

-          Academic problems / drinking – I do not for see these two obstacles being much of a problem to achieving my goal of graduating.  I enjoy the courses and I am taking at Stout and really enjoy learning about science.  If I do start struggling with grades I will make sure I make use of the tutors available.  As well as put more time and effort into studying.  I do enjoy spending my free time at the bar with friends, and if starts to become an issue I will have to take action immediately.  Glenna is a very good evaluator of this obstacle.  She keeps me in check when it comes to drinking, and if in the future she has serious concerns I will need to acknowledge her and take action.

-          Graduate school (I don’t know what I want to do) – I think I would enjoy going on to further education very much.  The problem is I have no idea what I want to do.  I find many if not all the courses I have taken very interesting, and I don’t know which I would like to focus on.  I have been a medic for 5 years, and have thought of going to P.A. school.  I believe to overcome this issue I need to start doing some research and continue to shadow the family practice doctor I have been working with to see if it is something I would like to do.

Updated Information after Meeting -

Five Choices for AGR Positions –

1.       Infantry

2.       Medical Officer

3.       Engineer Officer

4.       Recruiting and Retention

5.       Warrant Officer

I made these decisions after I contacted my current Commanding Officer as well as another officer in my unit that I know well.  Each told me there experiences as well as how they came to the decision they did.  Both of them went through the ROTC program at different colleges in Wisconsin.  That was not something I was interested in doing, so I also talked with a new lieutenant in my unit who just completed his officer training through an accelerated program after he received his bachelor’s degree.  After talking with him for a while about the program I decided that I would start getting my packet ready for that school.  I decided not to talk with Colonel Stout, because I already knew about the ROTC program and didn’t want to get hassled about joining Stout’s ROTC program.  Right now I have two separate packets started.    I have sent my transcripts to the physician’s assistant program and was told I can continue in the entry process, so that is going to be my main focus for the next couple of months.  I was told that the courses I have taken and my current G.P.A. are not going to be a problem.  They also said that my deployment experience as well as military service will help with the entry process.  I have been in contact with Wisconsin’s representative for this program who has been guiding my through the process.  If all goes well I could possibly be accepted into the program before I graduate from Stout, and be granted a bachelor’s degree from Nebraska.  I know that is wishful thinking, but I am going to continue following his instructions and continue the entry process.

Entrepreneurship

Choose a focus of either your final project topic or your career plan to develop an entrepreneurial assessment of yourself. This should be about a "1-page" activity. Some of these questions may help guide your thoughts: Do you want to be a "businessperson or an entrepreneur?" What traits and/or strengths do you see in your PDP that aligns with your thought? What weaknesses or opportunities for improvement do you notice that you would like to address to become a "businessperson or an entrepreneur?" Is entrepreneurship just about starting a business? Or is it much deeper and holistic than that? As the world quickly changes, which type of folks do you feel will be more on their "toes" and less on their "heels." Who do you think will achieve and live the happinesses that they seek in life?

My career goals and professional development plan are aimed at leading me to become a officer in the United States Army.  I have had this goal since I can remember as a child.  I started this goal professionally when I was 17, and joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard.  I have been trying to accomplish my goal by attending college and continuing my military NCO courses.  I have been fortunate enough to receive my first four promotions rather quickly and gained the rank of Sergeant.  As a Sergeant I have been in control of many soldiers, which has led me to learn how to lead soldier's.  This experience in leadership is going to be help me attain my goal as successful and respected officer in the U.S. Army.  I do not plan on ever getting involved with business, but I believe that I can apply traits of an entrepreneur to achieve my goals.  Some of the traits of an entrepreneur will apply to my own personal aspirations but that is about it.  As a leader of soldier's my goals and aspirations should not be a part of my thought process when making decisions.  I have had leader's in the past who make their decisions to reach their own goals and make themselves appear better in the eyes of the higher ups.  I know I will reach my goal, because of my own determination to accomplish it.  Once I attain my goal I hope that I will be able to make all of my decisions based upon the needs of the mission and the needs of the soldiers under my control.  I will do this through professionalism, passion, respect for subordinates, discipline, and love for country.  I am not worried about categorizing myself as a businessman or an entrepreneur.  I am not trying to reinvent the wheel or be the next Bill Gates.  I will be trained to lead the way that the military wants me to lead.  I do believe I can bring a lot to the table, and possible do things a different way to benefit the needs and well being of my soldiers.  The main goal is always going to be the mission and soon after that the needs of the soldier.  Decisions that I make when I reach my goal will solely be based on those two things and those alone.  If I make a decision that is not going to benefit the mission or the soldier then I should not be in the position to make those decisions.  If I can be successful and respected by my peers and subordinates as a leader of soldier's that should be all the happiness that I am seeking.  Members of the military are always on their toes.  One day we are packing our bags ready to go home, and the next we are unpacking and staying a month longer.

Lean Process

The 5S process I implemented was on the Medical office that I work in.  The lean process was also implemented to eliminate extra unneeded waste.  Their wasn't any way to implement the transportation muda simply, because we don't deal with any of the products movement.  In was kind of implemented in that all needed supplies were moved into the office, so we didn't have to get them from storage when they were needed.  An inventory has been and continually gets updated to keep track of numbers of supplies.  This allows us to monitor shortages that we may have.  The reorganization of the office helped in the motion muda, because all needed supplies were moved to areas more easily accessible than they were previously.  The waiting muda can and will be implemented by making a schedule for work that needs to be done.  Generally, this is already done and the schedule is followed closely to cut out unneeded waiting periods.  Over production is not an issue, because we do not provide a product but a service.  Over processing can be implemented by coming up with new ways to accomplish daily tasks.  Defects to our supplies are already closely monitored and we document all defects when inventories are done.  Any defects or shortages in supplies are documented immediately and resupply or exchange is done quickly.  Some data I could come up with for the lean process is that we had several shortages in syringes, needle/catheters, IV tubing, as well as several medications.  We were several hundred syringes below what we are suppose to have about 2 boxes.  Needle/catheters weren't too far off, but we also found three expired boxes.  IV tubing was one box under what we have on our inventory list, and was restocked immediately.  Our medication shortages we're documented, and will be resupplied over the next week.

5s Process

Post a record of a 5S process that you have completed. Post a before and after picture. Also, post a short narrative of how you addressed each of the "8s's" of the 5S process. Due Nov 11.

I implemented the 5s process on the medical office of HHC 1-28th INF.  Before I implemented the 5s's, the office was very cluttered and extremely hard to work and find equipment in.  Not only was the working area unorganized, but the entire office was chaotic

sorting - The first step that was taken was to take all unneeded materials out of the office as well as the desk.  Anything not needed on a daily basis was taken to storage.

straightening - All of the medical supplies that we decided to keep in the office as well as other office supplies were put on to shelves and labeled.

systematic - My squad leader and I made up a cleaning roster for the soldier's below us to follow.  This roster had times with teams of two, which included cleaning duties to follow.
cleaning

standardizing - For standardizing we set-up a packing list and location for all medical supplies that each soldier should have in their medicals bags.  Each bag was set up exactly the same, so no matter what bag a soldier needed to use everything would be in the same spot.

sustaining - Sustaining this plan will need to be implemented by the squad and team leaders.  Spot checks will be done periodically to ensure that soldiers are adhering to the plan in place.

safety - I believe safety was improved, because the office was cleaned up and unneeded supplies were not stacked on the shelves.  Having a more clean and uncluttered office will help with safety concerns

security - We have always had security plans in place.  There are many valuable medical items as well as closely monitored medications.  The office is always locked when there are no medical personnel present.

satisfaction - Having an organized and cleaner workspace will make being and working in the medical office a better environment for everyone.  This also includes the patients that we have coming into the office.  The new environment we have in place is a much more professional atmosphere.

Quality Management

Identify and describe a quality management process that is utilized in your field of interest. Typically this process is in response or guided by a professional organization in that field. Identify that organization.

Army Reguluation 5-1 Army Management implemented the TAQ - Total Army quality.  The four main focuses of the TAQ are 1. Leadership vision and commitment 2. Mission and customer focus 3. Employee empowerment 4. Continous improvement.  These quality control measures are maintained by having a defined mission statement, clear vision, measurable objectives, and a written document that can be used to continously improve off of.  These quaity control measuremetns are guided by AR 5-1 and the TAQ, and are implemented in any and all missions.

Special Ethical Questions

Ask/address an ethical question in your field of interest.

The ethical question I will be address is homosexual's in the military.  More specifically I will be talking about "Don't Ask Don't Tell", and the Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. 

Develop/address arguments for each side of the issue, then defend your position on the issue.

        The Don't Ask Don't Tell law was in forced from December 1993 to September 2011.  Prior to the Don't Ask Don't Tell law in 1993 homosexuality was completely unacceptable.  Don't Ask Don't Tell was brought on by President Clinton, and basically was meant to end questioning soldiers of their sexuality.  Homosexuality was still unlawful under this law, but a homosexual could remain in the U.S. military as long as they kept it completely private.  The Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2011 ended Don't Ask Don't Tell, and now allows homosexuals to openly serve in the U.S. military. 
         I have served during the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, and for a short time I have served after the repeal act.  I have know of homosexuals in the military while I have served and never thought less of them as a soldier.  We all wear the same uniform, and are fighting for the same reasons.  If someone is willing to sign on the dotted line and put their life on the line for the United States they should have the right to be proud of who they and not hide it.  There have been many great soldiers that have been discharged from the United States military, because of the military's stance on homosexuality.  With the repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy we will not have to lose another, and I believe it will strength the U.S. military.
         Although, I did not agree with the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy I can see why it was in affect for so many years.  The U.S. military has been based on tradition for hundreds of years, and changes do not come quickly.  The U.S. military believed that having openly gay or lesbian soldier's would weaken unit cohesion, discipline, and did not follow the morale standards of the military.  Many of these morale standards come form the Christian religion, which is obviously against homosexuality.  The last lines of the enlistment oath that every soldier entering the military must say is "So help me God".  Many of the military's traditions and morale's are based off of Christian beliefs, and accepting homosexuality would go against those traditions and morale's.  Another problem that can arise is that many people in the U.S. military are uncomfortable with homosexuality, and you can see how this could be a problem when a lot of the times you are eating, sleeping, and working with soldiers in your unit 24 hours a day seven days a week for sometimes a year at a time.  The Don't Ask Don't Tell policy kept a lot of these issues silenced by not allowing them to come up.  If soldier's were not allowed to Ask someone if they were a homosexual, and a homosexual was not allowed to tell anyone then there would be no disputes in a unit over these issues.  Below is a bullet taken from the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy explaining the traditions and morales of the U.S. military and why they believed at the time that homsexuals should not serve openly(policy concerning homsexuality in the Armed Forces).

 (8)Military life is fundamentally different from civilian life in that—

(A)the extraordinary responsibilities of the armed forces, the unique conditions of military service, and the critical role of unit cohesion, require that the military community, while subject to civilian control, exist as a specialized society; and

(B)the military society is characterized by its own laws, rules, customs, and traditions, including numerous restrictions on personal behavior, that would not be acceptable in civilian society.

this activity must include references
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:7:./temp/~c111SNIR00 (Library of Congress - Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act 2011)

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/654.html  (U.S.C.  654- policy concerning homsexuality in the Armed Forces)



each student will then review this beginning on Nov 2.

Title, Issue, Action Plan

Post your team's project Title, Issue, and Action Plan.

-          Topic place solar panels on all of the Jarvis/Micheels Buildings

-          Issues – Cost, Time, Feasibility, Benefits, Maintenance(sustainability)

-          Budget Group - cost feasibility (Tom / Amy) yorka8950@my.uwstout.edu

-          Benefits/ Time

-          Legal(business, ethics)(Camille, Sam)

-          Technological Development –

-          Sustainability -

I am part of the Budget group, and will be responsible with determining cost and feasibility of placing Solar Panels on Jarvis Hall.