SERVING IN A USACE DISTRICT

摘要

Serving in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) district provides an excellent opportunity to grow professionally, develop emotional intelligence, and sharpen technical skills. While serving as a deputy district engineer, I enjoyed learning about the Nation's civil works infrastructure while being involved with strategic-level engineering initiatives. The assignment gave me the opportunity to attend conferences, courses, and workshops where I networked with a variety of experts and professionals. I also enjoyed the organizational climate and the interaction with our command, staff, project managers, and the employees who operate the district locks and dams. I learned that the Department of the Army civilian workforce is just as devoted to duty as the uniformed members. Serving in the position reinforced the notion that leadership matters and that officers can never stop growing as leaders if they want to achieve mission success within organizations that may be very different from previous assignments. I would recommend a USACE assignment to officers who wish to broaden their career, enhance their leadership traits, and develop additional engineering skills. This article is primarily aimed at officers selected for a deputy district engineer position, but it includes information that may be useful to any officer going to a USACE assignment for the first time.