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Leading Marines

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U.S. Marine Corps

PCN 143 000129 00

SEMPER FIDELIS

Unless otherwise stated, whenever the masculine gender is used, both men and women are included.

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to be a “how to” guide on leadership, rather, it provides broad guid- ance in the form of concepts and values.

Additionally, Leading Marines is not designed as a reference man- ual; it is meant to be read from cover to cover. Its three chapters have a natural progression. Chapter 1 describes our ethos—who we are and what we do for our Nation. Building on that understanding, Chapter 2 covers the foundations of Marine Corps leadership. Chap- ter 3 then addresses overcoming the challenges our leaders face.

Once you read this publication, I charge you to discuss it with your peers, subordinates, and seniors. As General Mundy laid out in his foreword to the original publication in 1995, leading Marines is the most important responsibility in our Corps, and thus we must edu- cate the heart and mind to prevail on the battlefield and in the bar- racks, in war and in peace.

Semper Fidelis ,

JAMES F. AMOS

General, U.S. Marine Corps Commandant of the Marine Corps

Publication Control Number: 143 000129 00

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Preparing for War

Leading Marines

Introduction

Chapter 1. Our Ethos

Making Marines: The Transformation — Our Core Values — Our Naval Character and Expeditionary Mindset — Every Marine a Rifleman — Selflessness — Marine Traditions

Chapter 2. Foundations of Leadership

The Relationship Between Leaders and Their Marines — Leadership Traits — Leadership Principles — Morale — Discipline — Setting the Example — Taking Charge — Physical Courage — Moral Courage

Chapter 3. Overcoming Challenges

Friction — Moral Challenge — Physical Challenge — Adaptability — Innovation — Decentralization — The Indomitable Will to Win — Combat Power and Winning

Epilogue

Appendices

The Oaths — Marine Corps Manual, Paragraph 1100— Promotion Warrants and Commissions — The Creeds

Notes

Introduction

The act of leading Marines is a sacred responsibility and a rewarding experience. This publication describes a leadership philosophy that speaks to who we are as Marines. It is about the relationship between the leader and the led. It is also about the bond between all Marines that is formed in the common forge of selfless service and shared hardships. It’s in this forge where Marines are hardened like steel, and the undefinable spirit that forms the character of our Corps is born. It draws from shared experiences, hardships, and challenges in training and combat.

Leading Marines is not meant to be read passively; as you read this publication, think about the material. You should reflect on, discuss, and apply the concepts presented in this publication. Fur- thermore, it is the responsibility of leaders at all levels to mentor and develop the next generation of Marine leaders. This publica- tion contains numerous vignettes, drawn from our rich history, to give substance to the concepts. Marine leaders should add to these examples by sharing their own experiences with their Marines.

To effectively lead Marines, you must first understand what it is to be a Marine; you need to know who we are and what we do for our Nation. Our core values and traditions lie at the heart of our Marine Corps ethos and form the basis of the first chapter. The second chapter focuses on the foundations of Marine Corps leadership—the relationship between the leader and the led and the leadership traits and principles that are taught to every

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Marine. It goes on to address morale, discipline, and courage. The third chapter describes some of the challenges to leading in uncertain conditions and how to overcome them. It relies on the stories of Marines to illustrate our character and vividly depict, through action, what is required to lead Marines.

In the end, this publication speaks about the soul of our Corps, leadership, and its many attributes. It’s written about Marines, and it’s written for Marines.

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Before there was a United States, there was a Marine Corps. The Marine Corps legacy began with a reso- lution of the Continental Congress on 10 Novem- ber 1775 and continues through today. Our prede- cessors passed down the rich heritage that shaped each succeeding genera- tion of Marines.

Knowing who we are as Marines is essential to understanding how we lead Marines. Marines come from all walks of life, but being a Marine transcends our differences. Being a Marine is not a job or a particular occupational specialty. It is a calling. It is a state of mind. Being a Marine comes from the eagle, globe, and anchor tattooed on the soul of every one who has worn our cloth. It is a mark seared in our innermost being that comes after the rite of passage in boot camp at Parris Island or San Diego, or initial offi- cer training at Quantico—when young men and women earn the title “Marine.” Once they undergo the transformation, they become a Marine for life.

The story of Michael “Mike” Joseph Mansfield illustrates the lifelong impact of the Marine Corps. At age 14 during World War I, he dropped out of school, lied about his age, and enlisted

Leading Marines

in the US Navy. After discov- ering his real age, the Navy discharged him. He then served as a private in the US Army from 1919 to 1920. Afterwards, he joined the Marines where he served from 1920 to 1922, stateside and in the Philippines. In 1942, he began a distinguished career in politics with his election to the US House of Representa- tives, representing Montana’s 1st Congressional District. After serving five terms in the House of Representatives, the voters elected him to the US Senate where he eventually rose to the position of Senate Majority Leader. He retired from the Senate in 1976. From 1977 to 1988, he served as the US Ambassador to Japan. At age 98, he passed away and was laid to rest in Arlington National Ceme- tery. One would expect his grave to be marked by an imposing monument recording his military, congressional, and ambassado- rial service. Instead, his common headstone, shared by many interred in Arlington, simply reads: “Michael Joseph Mansfield PVT US Marine Corps MAR 16 1903 OCT 5 2001.” At the end of Mike Mansfield’s life, being a Marine was all that mattered. The story of Private Mansfield illustrates what we mean when we say, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

The final resting place of Private Michael Mansfield, US Marine Corps, Arlington National Cemetery.

Leading Marines

you?” We then send those who accept the challenge to Parris Island, San Diego, or Quantico where they receive more than just superb training; they are ingrained with a shared sense of service, honor, and discipline. The result is remarkable. Those who have what it takes undergo a personal transformation so incredible that often parents have difficulty recognizing their children who become Marines. A mother of a Marine described it this way:

When my son left home he had no motivation, he was lazy, slobby, no pride, no self-worth. This is the boy that got off the bus March 18th at Parris Island. The man that I met on Thursday for [parents’] day is AWESOME. There is no way I can describe to you all the difference. He looks different, he walks different, he talks different, he has such a sense of bearing and pride all I could do was look at him in awe. Oh yes, the training is hard, what he went through is unimagina- ble to any one that has not been there. They are definitely taught to be Warriors. Let me tell you the surprise of what else they are taught. My Marine son has better values, better morals, better manners than [anyone] I know. It is so much more than Yes Sir, Yes [Ma’am]... so much more. He cares about how he looks, he cares about what he does, and [it’s] not a boastful, bad ass thing. He is a true gentleman. I saw patience, and a calmness in him that I have never seen. I could never express my gratitude enough to the Marine Corps for what they have given my son.^4

Those who make it through boot camp and initial officer training win our Nation’s battles and return to society better citizens. The Corps’ history is full of tales of individual triumphs—Sergeant Major Dan Daly, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, Lieutenant General “Chesty” Puller, Colonel John Glenn, Private First Class

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James Anderson, Jr., Corporal Jason Dunham, Sergeant Dakota Meyer, Corporal Kyle Carpenter, and countless others—that exhibit the indomitable spirit of Marines in combat and in sur- mounting day-to-day challenges. You, as a Marine leader, have the responsibility to sustain the transformation.

OUR CORE VALUES

Our motto is Semper Fidelis , Always Faithful. We are faithful to our Nation, the Corps, and to each other. This is not blind faith, it is a faith guided by our values. As Marines, we share the core val- ues of honor , courage , and commitment. As much as anything else, our core values set us apart. They give us strength, influence our attitudes, and regulate our behavior. They bond all Marines into a band of brothers that can meet any challenge. In the end, these values make us better citizens when we return to a society that sometimes questions values. Many Marines realize this when they go home for the first time and notice they are different from their old buddies.

HONOR : The bedrock of our character. The quality that guides Marines to exemplify the ultimate in ethical and moral behav- ior; never to lie, cheat, or steal; to abide by an uncompromising concept of integrity; to respect human dignity; to have concern for each other. The quality of maturity, dedication, trust, and dependability that commits Marines to act responsibly, to be accountable for actions, to fulfill obligations, and to hold others accountable for their actions.

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coastal regions that comprise the littorals of the world. Opera- tions along these littorals require special “training and prepara- tion... along Marine Corps lines. It is not enough that the troops be skilled infantry men or artillery men... they must be skilled water men and jungle men who know it can be done—Marines with Marine training.”^5

The Marine Corps’ naval character has shaped the Corps since its inception. Our naval character makes us different because it com- bines the characteristics of soldiers and sailors. In 1775, Congress resolved that two battalions of Marines be raised “... such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage at sea, when required.”^6 The result is a sea soldier—an odd conglomeration that talks like one, dresses like another, and fights better than both. The determination to be dif- ferent, and remain different, manifested itself in many ways over the years—from military appearance, to strict obedience to orders, to disciplined behavior, to adherence to standards, to per- sistent engaged leadership, and, most of all, to an unyielding con- viction that we exist to fight. These characteristics have distinguished Marines since 1775.

The historic partnership between the Navy and the Marine Corps is a heritage that continues today. The anchor in our emblem symbolizes that the individual Marine remains a soldier of the sea. Marine officers are “naval” officers and our pilots are “naval” aviators. Marines have served on ships since our incep- tion, and the Marine Corps has been part of the Department of the Navy since 1834.

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As early as 1798, the Secretary of the Navy noted that the Corps’ missions were of an “amphibious nature.” Though early Marines served primarily on board ships as part of the ship’s company, they always had a secondary role to serve as expeditionary forces, whenever or wherever needed. Marine Captain Samuel Nicholas’ amphibious expedition to New Providence island in the Bahamas in 1776 and Marine Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon’s 1804 landing in Tripoli were the first deployments of American forces on for- eign soil. Since then, Marines have conducted expeditionary and sustained operations ashore in Cuba, Panama, the Philippines, Haiti, China, France, the Pacific, Korea, Lebanon, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, and scores of other places.

Although specific missions differ, what remains constant is our unyielding commitment to protect the lives of our citizens and the

Marines landing on New Providence.

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combat power and the organizational flexibility to accomplish diverse missions around the world. Our expeditionary culture emphasizes being fast, austere, and lethal.

EVERY MARINE A RIFLEMAN

Our role as an expeditionary force in readiness requires that we make every Marine a rifleman first. Before we teach Marines to fly aircraft, drive tanks, maintain equipment, or any of the other skills necessary for a combat ready Marine Corps, we teach them to shoot accurately. Then we teach them basic infantry skills. During expeditionary operations, no Marine is very far from the fighting; there are no “rear area Marines.” Combat and combat service support units defend themselves and, when necessary, fight as provisional infantry.

Every Marine a rifleman is not a new concept. The first Marine aviator to earn the Medal of Honor in World War II, Captain Henry “Hank” Elrod, was a fighter pilot with VMF-211. He arrived on Wake Island on 4 December 1941 and 4 days later he

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was fighting the Japanese in the air. On 12 December, he single- handedly attacked a flight of 22 enemy planes, downing 2 of them. Additionally, he executed several low-altitude bombing and strafing runs on enemy ships. During one of these attacks, he sank the Japanese destroyer Kisaragi. When hostile fire eventu- ally destroyed all US aircraft on Wake Island, he assumed com- mand of part of the ground defense. In this role, he was responsible in large measure for the strength of his sector’s gal- lant resistance as he and his Marines valiantly repulsed numerous Japanese attacks. On 23 December, Captain Elrod was mortally wounded while protecting his men who were carrying ammuni- tion to a gun emplacement.^9

Nearly 71 years later, Marines from the same squadron (redesig- nated VMA-211) would once again prove that every Marine is a rifleman. On the night of 14 September 2012, 15 heavily-armed Taliban insurgents dressed in US Army uniforms breached the eastern perimeter of Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The insurgents split into three teams of five men each and commenced a coordinated attack on the airfield. Realiz- ing the flight line was under attack, the VMA-211 commander, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Raible, armed only with his pis- tol, organized his pinned down Marines into fire teams for a counterattack. During the fighting, he was mortally wounded when a rocket propelled grenade detonated next to him.^10

During the attack on the airfield, Sergeant Bradley Atwell, an avionics technician, immediately directed his Marines to grab