Bastian Kuhl’s Post

In the dynamic world of aviation, the role of an Air Force Pilot encompasses more than just flying an aircraft. It involves taking responsibility for the safety of the crew and making impactful decisions that affect lives. Throughout her career as an Air Force Pilot and speaker, Michelle "Sonic" Ruehl has not only travelled the world but also shared the stories and experiences of military missions. Interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with family members who have served in the military, has been profoundly inspiring for her. 🚀 One of the most rewarding aspects of being an Air Force Pilot for Sonic is witnessing the transformation of new trainees and observing the moment when their fear turns into exhilaration and confidence. The thrill of mentoring the next generation is an experience she cherishes. She believes that the essence of being an Air Force Pilot is encapsulated in the ability to inspire, mentor, and make vital decisions not solely for oneself but also for the team. This sense of duty extends well beyond the confines of the cockpit. If you're looking for a motivational speaker with thought leadership and expertise in Flawless Execution, look no further than Michelle “Sonic” Ruehl. Her valuable experiences and insights make her an ideal choice for your corporate events, leadership seminars, and more. A credible Air Force Pilot who's all about blazing new trails and fearlessly taking on the skies. Get ready to dive into her awesome journey and glean some seriously cool insights into her high-flying career! ✈️ #MichelleSonicRuehl #SkyHighStories #AviationAdventures #Afterburner #ElevateExecution #FighterPilotStrategies #AfterburnerSuccess #TeamPerformance #HighImpactKeynotes #TopGunExperience #TeamTransformation #LeadershipExcellence #MilitaryMonth

Hello again, LinkedIn! It has been a while since my last post on here but rest assured that I am still alive and active. I have been working on redefining and rediscovering myself, identifying who I really am and where I want/need to be professionally. Over the past year I have developed a better understanding of business practices best suited for program execution and capture efforts. Additionally, I have increased my knowledge of business growth, development and strategy. Being on this side of the fence away from actual military service has been an eye opener in the most positive aspect. I stand in awe of the amazing things that companies like ours, Northrop Grumman, do to support our warfighters by providing them with the most technologically advanced equipment to maintain the advantage on the battlefield. For me, I know where I want to be and what I want to do going forward. The skills and experience that I gained during my 20 years of military service, coupled with the professional corporate experience over the past three years, is driving me to want more, to become more than I am now, to be the best that I can to support a company and teammates. Never underestimate what you bring to a company. Do not settle for something less than what you know you deserve. Know your worth and make them see the value you bring to a company. #northropgrumman #leadership #values #professionalgrowth

Leadership Story Time! (some military speak ahead) I was young in the Navy and approached to be the lead AW on an upcoming detachment. This was unusual because this role is usually filled by people more senior than I was. It was only my second full deployment and I was all the things you might expect: nervous, excited, and confident. Fast forward a bit to the Officer in Charge (OIC) sitting me down and explaining how he wanted the detachment to be run/led. In his words, it would be run in the same way the squadron was - with a clear split between operations and maintenance. I would be the enlisted leader for the operations side and the maintenance team would have their enlisted leader. I told him I thought this would cause friction with the Maintenance team, but he was clear. This was his detachment and we'd run it his way. We needed to figure it out. To do that, I went to the detachment maintenance leaders and my direct leadership and shared what I'd been told. Everyone politely thanked me for sharing that. The next day, I was called to the Chief's Mess and found myself standing at attention. Sitting comfortably in front of me was everyone I'd talked to the day before. The message was clear. I was to ignore the OIC's direction. To this day I still do not know why that conversation happened with me at attention and the rest of them sitting comfortably, but the subtext was clear enough: I was on my own. I should mention, there was one other person in the room. A man who was the lead Chief of my first detachment. He knew me well and had nothing to gain or lose in this situation. Of all the leaders in that room, he was the only one who spoke for me. While their focus was on who was in charge, he wanted to talk to me about how I could be effective in my role. Afterward, he was the only one who talked to me individually and gave me advice on how I should proceed. In other words, he was a leader. One who understood that leadership isn't just about authority. It's about mentorship, guidance, and standing up for what's right. He was the only one who understood that there was no difference between leading me and leading the broader team. His name was Senior Chief Schaeppi and I will forever be grateful for his guidance.

Everyone’s journey is different. My perspective on work and my professional career has been shaped by my unique military service path and the backdrop of history (9/11) that put me back in uniform and combat for almost two years. But what has shaped me is much more than that. My career choices in marketing, sales and business team leadership have been shaped by failing my flight physical for undergraduate pilot training. As a prospective United States Air Force Academy graduate, I was guaranteed a pilot training slot upon graduation. If I was physically qualified for the standards of the time. But my eyes worsened while at the school. And that changed my trajectory, my experiences and my choices many years later. I now work in vision care. On businesses that correct or mitigate challenges for people. It is an extraordinary field and extraordinary part of the industry. And I wouldn’t change a thing. Though I was going to be America’s greatest fighter pilot. 😉 How about you? What was the thing that has changed your perspective on work? #leadership #changinglives #OneThingToKow

The Rifleman's Creed: A Relevant Blueprint for Success in the Civilian Sector As a profesional that has started transitioning from military service to the civilian workforce, I've discovered that the relevence of the principles embodied in the Rifleman's Creed extend far beyond the Corps. This creed, a cornerstone of the Marine Corps ethos, emphasizes discipline, responsibility, and unwavering commitment—values that are just as vital in the corporate world as they are in our organization. - Excellence in Every Task: “I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel.” The creed instills a pursuit of excellence and mastery over one's tools, akin to how professionals must master their skills and tools, whether they be software, financial models, or strategic frameworks. Striving for excellence in every task, no matter how small, sets a foundation for success and leadership. - Accountability and Responsibility: "My rifle and myself are defenders of my country" translates to a deep sense of accountability and responsibility in the workplace. Owning our roles, being accountable for our actions, and understanding the impact of our work on the team and the broader organization are critical for achieving goals and advancing missions. - Precision and Focus: Just as the creed states to make every shot count, in the civilian sector, precision and focus are key to achieving objectives efficiently and effectively. This mindset encourages meticulous planning, strategic thinking, and the discipline to stay focused on end goals, despite distractions or challenges. - Adaptability: The dynamic and often unpredictable nature of military engagements teaches us to adapt quickly to changing conditions. This adaptability is equally important in the business world, where market conditions, technology, and customer needs are constantly evolving, even social media. In summary, the Rifleman's Creed remains relevant and offers a powerful framework for professional excellence in the civilian sector. By embodying its principles of mastery, accountability, precision, and adaptability we can navigate our careers with the same honor, courage, and commitment that define the finest of the military tradition. #VeteranTransition #ProfessionalDevelopment #Leadership #Teamwork #adaptability #marinecorps

My dream of becoming a Us Navy Blue Angels pilot didn’t happen overnight. ✈️ It was a continuous journey and battle of improvement.    To put into perspective how elite and exclusive the Blue Angels are… roughly 260 people have been inducted as a Blue Angel since 1946.     The U.S. Navy has roughly 6,200 pilots… just this year.     And most pilots first have to be in 5-6 different positions before even being considered for the Blue Angels.     I say all this to show that even an elite, experienced team like the Blue Angels could improve 300% in just 90 days! There’s always room for improvement, even at the highest levels. 🙌    High performance doesn't always come easy or quick, but with resilience, transformative growth is possible.    There are no overnight transformations or shortcuts to success. Just a steady dedication to growth and excellence over many years. But the destination is worth every mile.    Transformation takes time. Keep striving, stay resilient, and don't get discouraged by setbacks.     We’ve all been there. I have.    What’s a goal you want to work towards this year? 💭    #Mindset #GladToBeHere #Gratitude  #HighPerformance #Leadership 

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶? Yesterday, I received an unexpected call from a former soldier of mine, Smith (pictured top left). I haven’t seen Smith since 2017. Despite the years, when I saw his name, I immediately answered. He’s been considering some career moves and wanted to talk through them, much like we would when he was a 19-year-old private. He’d been watching my transition from afar and during our call he was probing into what life is like on the “outside” and how I found my way. He reminded me of how I advised him as a young man in the Army, citing specific examples in vivid detail as if these moments occurred days, not years ago. I could tell by the way he spoke that those moments meant a lot and stayed with him over a decade later after we first met. I was very pleased to learn that my leadership had left such a lasting impression on him and he’s found so much success in the Military. Beyond proud of him. This is a reminder to my network that being in leadership is much more than 1:1’s and year-end reviews. Your team should be able to lean on you for guidance, support, and mentorship. Pour into your people. Leadership is not a responsibility that should be taken lightly. Take care of your teams and make every day count! #LeadershipImpact #MentorshipMatters #Veterans #TheBrotherhood #82airborne

❓ Finding My Identity After the Military ❓ When I left the military, I thought I was ready for the next chapter. I had a plan and a strong work ethic, but what I didn’t expect was the struggle to find my identity outside of the Airforce. For years, my identity was tied to my role in the military—being part of something larger than myself and knowing exactly where I fit in. When I left, I was faced with the question: “Who am I now?” The transition is more difficult than I imagined. I felt a sense of loss, and although I have made the right call to leave I have found certain areas difficult to adapt to. I have now turned back to something I’ve always loved—football. Coaching gives me a sense of purpose and belonging and allows me to reconnect with my passion for mentorship and leadership, and just being out on the grass. It has reminded me that while my military career may have ended, the core of who I am hasn’t changed. Now, I continue my journey as a coach and an apprentice electrician, I’ve come to see that identity isn’t about the title you hold or the uniform you wear. It’s about the values you live by and the impact you have on others. To anyone else struggling with identity after a major life transition, know that it’s okay to feel lost. It’s okay to take time to rediscover who you are. And it’s okay to find new ways to use the strengths you’ve always had. If you’ve gone through something similar, I’d love to hear your story. How did you find your way back to yourself after a big change? #MilitaryTransition #Identity #FootballCoaching #Leadership #VeteranJourney #CareerChange #FindingPurpose

Veterans seem to deal with this often, What is Good/ What is Bad Bringing up “Past” experiences and companies you worked for… I have recently been told that always referencing my military career while having conversations is “Out of Scope”. My thoughts on the comment made: Educate, don’t hate, so I will try! What a lot of people don’t understand is that many of us (service members) have had a full 10 - 20 year career in a specific military field. So what we have to offer can be very informative to a conversation or group discussion. What many don’t understand is that we have been to many (some lots) #continueingeducation schools, earned degrees (in the same field), along with many #leadershipdevelopment courses, so we do know more than just marching or using a weapon. I have learned that the military tends to send more troops to more #leadership courses (typically for every rank promoted too) than many civilian companies send their people to, as to people serving supervisory roles. #educatemeotherwise Be more open to #listening to our experiences and wisdom, we have in various areas. Most service members can or have led large groups of people in very high-stress environments. #doingmorewithless If you have a chance to take on a service member in your company, do so and give them the ability to show all those skills from their service experience. I am confident that they will produce great results! #veteranshelpingveterans #servicemembers #experiance #takingchances ** My "stay" crew ensured every one of the Sqdn jets left for home all the same day, a successful mission I will add! I was so proud of their dedication to making it happen. I am (from right) the second person in, proud Maint. Chief., BlackSheep.

Have your employees had to leave a lifestyle behind to join your company? Leaving a lifestyle behind and coming into the reality of the world of office work was an immense change that Lisa Jones faced when she joined Quest after leaving the RAF. Here is what she learnt and how you can correctly introduce change in your business: https://lnkd.in/dDMY8ewe #military #raf #change #leadership