Page 40 - Signal Winter 2018

| FORMER MEMBER INTERVIEW |
Michael Broderick on duty with UNIFIL
crisis while thinking under pressure. These are all skillsets that are taught in the Cadet School and reinforced and advanced through the various career courses that a military officer undertakes. While the circumstances may differ, many of the ‘crises’ and decisions that one has to deal with in the civilian world are very similar, albeit generally not life threatening. In business, getting a decision wrong can have serious financial consequences and detrimentally impact the viability of the business, so the ability to problem solve in an analytical and logical way is highly valued. While this has been recognised and valued for many years by the bigger multinationals who have a history of hiring ex-military people in their home country, a growing number of organisations in Ireland now recognise the fact that people with a military background are well trained and skilled in such areas.
What was one of the biggest challenges of moving into the professional sphere from the military one?
Once I had made the decision to move, it was then about finding the correct role. While it goes without saying, this is a very important stage as this is the start of your second career and depending on what you want it to be, my experience would be to hold out for what you want (while being realistic), rather than jumping at the first offer or opportunity you get.
Because business organisations are generally not as structured or hierarchical as the military, there is also less support. By their nature you tend to be more ‘on your own’. While this has both advantages and disadvantages, it does take a bit of getting used to.
What advice would you have for anyone within the military considering a move to a professional career?
As with any military strategy, decide what you want to do, ask yourself do you have the necessary tools/skillset to get you in the door and make a plan. The currency of men and women who have gone through the Cadet School is improving all of the time as increasing numbers of former officers have successful second careers in the private/commercial sector. However, it can still be difficult to get in the door for that first and all important interview. This is why is important to tick all of the boxes in terms of qualifications, once you get in the door it is up to you after that.
There is definitely a perception that Military Officers lead through over reliance on their rank “do as I say as opposed to do as I do”, we know that this is not true but be prepared to address the point, also be careful of over reliance on military terminology, not everyone knows what an ‘Est. of Sit.’ is.
How do you look back on your military career and what were the best aspects of it:
I look back on my military career with great fondness, vividly remembering the good days and the not so good, I still have a very clear recollection of ‘scratch’ during the 1st Glen, not to mention moments on the square of Pearse Barracks (rompu, rompu..... (62nd Class joke)). However what stands out for me most is the comradeship and friendships made over the 21 years across all ranks. Only recently I was invited back to a recruit platoon reunion, that I was Platoon Commander of 30 years ago. Unfortunately I could not attend due to other commitments, but there are few other professions where this kind of connection is maintained. I would say without fear of contradiction that friendships made during time in the Cadet School are probably the strongest a person can make, I imagine it is something to do with the shared hardship and ‘war’ stories and knowing that they will always be there for you through thick and thin right to this day. While everyone has to make their own decision and do what is right for them and their families, for me the decision to retire when I did was the correct one. I now have the luxury of enjoying my current albeit challenging role while remembering fondly my previous career as a Military Officer, one of which I am very proud.
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