Taking that next step, Is it worth it?

[IceNine]

I have recently decided that after almost 10 years of dedicated service to my squadron, that it may be time to explore options outside this capacity.  There is a request floating around right now for a Senior Advisor to the Wing CAC, that looks appealing.  But the winds of change are starting to blow and there is a good possibility that I will be chosen as the next unit commander, I have also been offered several different positions at group of which I only hold 1.

The questions I place before you is.  Is it possible to be successful at multiple echelons? 

Those that have done it what's your thoughts on leaving the unit behind to explore wing jobs?

If I do choose to work on all three levels I will be working in 3 different directorates are there any issues associated with this other than the obvious increased work load, and discontinuity in the work that I do?

[Stonewall]

I'm just gonna throw this out there, under the influence of ETOH, but that's another story....

I went to wing after 10+ years at the squadron level, and I went back to the squadron after a year.  Look man, unless you're 50+ years old and/or have 20 years at the squadron level, stay at the squadron.

[SDF_Specialist]

I have recently decided that after almost 10 years of dedicated service to my squadron, that it may be time to explore options outside this capacity.  There is a request floating around right now for a Senior Advisor to the Wing CAC, that looks appealing.  But the winds of change are starting to blow and there is a good possibility that I will be chosen as the next unit commander, I have also been offered several different positions at group of which I only hold 1.

The questions I place before you is.  Is it possible to be successful at multiple echelons? 

Those that have done it what's your thoughts on leaving the unit behind to explore wing jobs?

If I do choose to work on all three levels I will be working in 3 different directorates are there any issues associated with this other than the obvious increased work load, and discontinuity in the work that I do?

I will give you a suggestion. If you feel that you are at a dead end in you unit, then you probably are. I do unit and Wing, and I have been successful at both levels. Explore your opportunities. You know the saying. The sky's the limit.

[O-Rex]

Go: explore.

You can always go back.

[RiverAux]

Depending on the staff job and its workload you can do jobs at squadron and group/wing level at the same time.  I can't imagine the duties of the CAC senior advisor would be too onerous and you could probably pick that up with no problem. 

However, there is no way you can be a squadron commander and do any other job at any level, not if you want to do it right. 

[AlphaSigOU]

I currently serve as Senior Advisor to the Texas Wing CAC, in addition to my regular squadron duties of admin and personnel officer. Generally, CAC senior advisor is not much of a high-visibility or high-stress 'wing weenie' job, unless you consider herding cadinks a high-stress job!  I still remain on the books at Addison, never needing to get transferred to the Wing Staff squadron.

[SDF_Specialist]

Go: explore.

You can always go back.

That is, if you are welcome back.

[pixelwonk]

...And I thought this thread was going to be about getting married.

Anyway, not knowing where you are and what the climate of your wing is like, it's hard to give any real advice that doesn't sound like "Well I do it, so it must be good for you too" stuff.

That said, let's answer your questions directly:

The questions I place before you is.  Is it possible to be successful at multiple echelons?

Yes, definitely, not too hard with the wing SM CAC adviser, but we don't know what your group job is.

Those that have done it what's your thoughts on leaving the unit behind to explore wing jobs?

I wouldn't put in the transfer just yet.  Personally, I went 4 years and two squadrons before transferring to Wing.  And I still don't think it made any difference.  Esp. now that the squadron closest to me as a terrific Personnel officer. Heck, I could be worse off.

If I do choose to work on all three levels I will be working in 3 different directorates are there any issues associated with this other than the obvious increased work load, and discontinuity in the work that I do?

mmkay...  good possibility that you will be appointed squadron commander?  if you've got the stones for it, forget the others and give Sqdn CC strong consideration.  There's probably no Wing job, aside from Wing Commander, that will give as much satisfaction and BTDT as squadron commander.  There's always wing jobs waiting when you're done.

[MajorSER]

You should always keep climbing. I went from Squadron Staff to Squadron Commander to Group Commander to Wing Staff to Region Staff. Always climbing. When I reached Level V and Lt. Col I kept on climbing and joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

[floridacyclist]

I have been asked to take on both Group and wing ES positions in the last month in addition to my job as Squadron ESO. I turned the wing job down and stated that I had no taste for the politics at wing level. On the other hand, I told the group commander that I will take him up on Group ESO once I get my replacement trained as Squadron Personnel/admin Officer so I can drop a couple of duty assignments. With us moving toward a group-centric training model, this might actually make my job easier.

I'm also looking for someone to take on Squadron PAO, although I'd like to be allowed to continue to contribute pictures and stories as well as keep up the website and would be available to help on a case-by-case basis since I've been through the FEMA PIO training.