“WHO ARE THE PROFESSIONAL LOGISTICIANS?” – St. Louis Logistician, V29N7 October 1995
“What makes a logistician a professional? Do you have to be a Certified Professional Logistician (CPL) to be considered a logistics professional? For that matter, how many of us consider ourselves to be “logisticians”, professional or not?
Everyone is a logistician, but some of us make a study of it. Many folks only equate SOLE members or CPLs as being professional logisticians. Not true! All of us who make a living performing business or military logistics functions are professional logisticians. It doesn’t take an exam to prove you are professional. There is the standard dictionary definition of “professional”, but I prefer to use another one as demonstrated to me by a friend that I used to play second-chair French-Horn to: “Professional(ism) is attitude”
I believe there are two types of people working in logistics: 1) career oriented, and 2) nine-to-fivers. The first type often seek educational opportunities, are interested in professional organizations, stay current with industry and DoD changes, and are interested in logistics outside of work hours. Nine-to-fivers work at their logistics job for eight hours and then go home. There is nothing wrong with either type and both may be highly motivated and effective at what they do. What distinguishes the two then is mostly “attitude”.
Since you are reading this, you probably fall into the first category. Congratulations! You are a most defiantly a professional logistician. So what’s with the certifications [and certificates]? Being certified just means that the SOLE qualifications review board, along with successfully passing the examination, recognizes the fact that you know some stuff. It doesn’t make a person any more or less knowledgeable or professional. For myself, becoming a CPL allowed me to achieve a milestone in my career – plus it gave me a lasting warm feeling of accomplishment.
So do you consider yourself a professional logistician yet? You should. Be proud of your career and make it happen for you. Being involved in SOLE is a great way to maintain this attitude. It works for me.”