Army Quote by Karie Fugett
““I learned quickly that everything in the military that involves paperwork or money is more difficult than it needs to be. You have to be persistent and thorough, and even then, you'll probably be told "no" a few times and be forced to start the process over again. Finding help is nearly impossible. With a disinterested grimace, everyone will tell you that someone else is who you need to talk to until you realize no one knows the answer to your question or cares enough to find it. At that point, you have two choices: give up or be a pain in the ass. I chose the latter. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Military bureaucracy discussion, 2018
Persistence and being vocal are essential to overcome bureaucratic inertia and get results.
In simple terms: Be persistent to get results.
Key Takeaway
Stay vocal and keep trying.
Themes
bureaucracy
persistence
advocacy
Mood
frustrated
determined
Type
pragmatic
cautionary
When to use this quote
- government paperwork
- military procurement
- grant applications
- customer service complaints
Key Concepts
organizational behavior
systems theory
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it better to seek alternative routes?
- How can you balance persistence with diplomacy?
A Different Perspective
Being a “pain” can strain relationships and may not always be effective.
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
