The Cameron-Brooks Experience

[ryan.kent]

Hello! Although I am several months removed from my CB career conference, I wanted to share my thoughts for those preparing and hopefully give them a new perspective or something different to think about. First, after reading what many have said about the experience and what to think about, do, prepare, etc., I would say they are all right (and read them!). They are all right because it is what worked for each of us in our own way. Some of us need to stay up late and study every detail and are successful. Some do the opposite and do not study a bit, but are still successful. Then unfortunately there are those that do one or the other and are not successful. And here is where I believe CB is great - they make you learn and understand yourself, and eliminate (for the most part) us not being successful.

We love to talk about leadership. How we motivate people and make people successful in their job and lives. Cameron-Brooks is the leader in preparing junior military officers for careers in corporate America. They have a ton of experience, a ton of candidates, a ton of life-time members they continue to communicate with, and not an endless staff to do it all. Efficiency is probably the best word I could use to describe their team. However, as we all know, as our numbers of subordinates or soldiers grow, the ability to lead people individually decreases. Battalion commanders lead differently than platoon leaders because they can't reach all their soldiers on an individual level. So what happens in this situation? We develop a standard, and common thread of consistency for all and we apply this style to everyone because there are just too many people (every leader has his group he leads individually, but you get the point). It’s not bad at all, but necessary. Cameron-Brooks is like the commander, their methods work, and they are effective. But they work because they have been tested over time and work for the general candidate. CB does not have the time to really reach a personal level with everyone until the conference (and even then its hard). So my point is simple: don't get discouraged at preparation because you think you don't have to do it - the system works. Do the preparation to know yourself. That way you can better articulate yourself to the CB team when you have the chance, and they will give you that personal leadership and feedback that we all know is so much better and effective.

Why do some candidates join 2 weeks before a conference and some CB won't let go because they are not ready? Cameron-Brooks' experience and knowledge. Some of us need more time, some of us need to do more dime washer drills to qualify. You may not like everything your leader makes you do to get there, but goal is the same for all of us...to qualify. It is the leader’s job to get us there, and Cameron-Brooks does that.

Trust them, and they will get you there. I did and I am very thankful.

Enjoy the experience, and have fun!

Ryan Kent
IT Project Manager
Technicolor
USMA '04 (Field Artillery)