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Tracy Emerick’s Military and Business Experience
My first introduction into business was while I was on active duty in the military. As a captain in the Army I was put in charge of an officer’s club, an NCO club, an EM Club and transient billets (motel). Having grown up a an “Army Brat” I had no exposure to the concept or the practice of being in business. My father was a government employee who wore defined uniforms, was moved around the United States and Germany about every 18 months to 2 years (with his family in tow). My aspiration was to be just like my father, an Army officer. My brother felt the same way and went to West Point, I achieved my officer rank by being a Distinguished Military Graduate from college.
Running all the non-appropriated funds (operations that the government didn’t pay for, operations and dues provided the money to hire employees, like bartenders and the like) was my second duty assignment while stationed in Germany. So, not only did I learn about running four businesses I learned how to work with foreign employees: Germans, Italians, Spanish, Dutch; much like employing the UN.
The one document that I learned to understand was the profit and loss statement (P&L). Making sure that there was more profit than loss became a monthly endeavor. I grew to understand portion control in both the bar and the kitchen along with waste and “shrinkage” (inventory that walked out the back door) along with pricing of popular and “blind” items in order to provide a bigger bottom line.
What good did this new knowledge do – none. The skills I was learning had no practical application in the general operations of the military where profit is not even a concept. Fortunately, my interest in business began to overshadow my interest in continuing in the military. So to make myself more valuable to me, my family and a future civilian employer, I started taking evening classes to earn my masters of business administration (MBA).
My father and brother served until they retired from the Army. Both knew the military way, the government way, but neither were well served to be in business as a retired person. Both found employment still associated with the government. The concept of being self employed was not an option for either of them. Being self employed in a home business or any other type of business never crossed their minds. Both continued to work in government style where P&L, independence or going it on your own were not options. The nice thing about being a retired military going into business is that you have medical benefits and a monthly check. Either of these would be considered a blessing by an entrepreneur, that’s why retired military going into business for themselves is an ideal situation.
This life chapter taught me that the military environment is not well lent to the profit oriented business model. So, I have understanding of the military person, spouse or dependent. The only path out of this environment seems to be working for someone else, being an employee so the employer can be responsible for P&L concerns. Not so.
Military man or woman, spouse or dependent can now have a business that is portable, operates in worldwide wherever there is Internet access, so no matter where the next duty station might be the business can go along. You may not be military but have the same issues of moving from place to place. This business is bullet proof enough for the military it is certainly transportable for any non-military/civilian to take along. You can be on active duty in Iraq or Japan and continue with your business. You could be assigned to a posting in Sweden and continue your business. All that is required is your laptop and Internet access.
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