Marine Corps Leadership Essay

“In order to be a good leader, there are two things to remember. Lead from the Front and always set the Example. From these two leadership principles, everything else will fall into place.”

Effective leaders can inspire followers to excel and achieve a goal (Reed & Bogardus, 2012). Besides inspiration, military leaders should stimulate trust and possess specific core competencies including loyalty, selflessness, decisiveness, integrity, self-discipline, perseverance, and dedication (Loughlin & Arnold, 2007). Unfortunately, LCDR MacInnes lacks a few of these qualities.

Leaders of quality do not use their rank or authority to achieve personal gratification, monetary increase, or to evade exposure to danger but sacrifice all for their Soldiers and the accomplishment of their mission when and if necessary.

One thing I did not expect as a young man is that during my journey in the Coast Guard, whether 4 years or 30, that I would have the privilege to meet some great leaders. As though a higher power was at work, I usually had the proper leadership for the stage I was at in my career. BM2 Welch was rough around the edges and a stickler for detail. I was still new to the Coast Guard and needed a firm hand BM2 provided. He gave me direction. I learned from BM2 that working hard at every task thrown at someone is essential to be a good shipmate. As a brand new petty officer, BMC Jeff Reed showed me how to hold other people accountable. He never reprimanded me in public, and after every strict talking, he gave me a pathway to resolve the situation

Is there a way to practice leading Marines? Is it possible to build confidence in your ability to lead Marines? Can you do both while instilling discipline in your junior Marines? How can you bring your unit closer together? All of this can be accomplished by implementing Close Order Drill beyond graduation from Recruit Training, Marine leaders will build confidence, practice their leadership abilities and promote unit cohesion all while instilling discipline in their junior Marines.

The United States Marine Corps has been one of the most powerful military branches in the world for more than twenty-three decades. The most important things that have kept this organization as prestigious and powerful as it is are the famous leadership traits, leadership principles, corps values and the leaders that uphold those traits. Without these structures, this leadership hierarchy this “gun club” would not have lasted this long. The next thousand or so words will help explain those traits, principles and corps values that we hold so high.

Working in a unique environment like Officer Candidates School, NCO’s are not given a lot of responsibility because of the politics that surround the school house. In order to ensure candidates are given a fair evaluation and that everything is done by the book, most tasks are completed by the SNCO’s and Officers instead of entrusting it to be done by the unit NCO’s. One thing that can be done to give NCO’s more responsibility is to let them get involved with the decisions that get made on a day to day level at the unit. Allow the Marines who actually have to conduct the tasks to be part of the decision making to have a task accomplished. Another thing that can be done at my unit is to let NCO’s be NCO’s and handle situations that occur on a day to day basis.

According to MCWP 6-11, an effective Marine Corps leader is both “technically and tactically proficient” (pg. 2-4). Marines must continuously strive to seek out and study military literature like The Art of War (Sun Tzu, 2005) as well as military publications and guides like MCWP 6-11 (2014). Marines should also make every effort to complete as much Professional Military Education (PME) as possible. Though PME Marines will not only get a better overall understanding of the “total concept”, but it also provides an opportunity for Marines to discuss different lessons they have learned through their experiences. Marines must use this knowledge to better understand the art and science of war.

Leadership is important within in the Marine Corps because it serves as a path of guidance for subordinates to follow and emulate. There are many traits and principles that are taken into consideration when describing a great leader however; there is always room for leadership improvement no matter how great an individual may be. The leadership principle: know yourself and seek self-improvement, is one that is significantly lacking most amongst the noncommissioned officer ranks because, leaders are failing to check personal attitudes, participate in self-reflection, and aren’t willing to admit and learn from failures and weaknesses. By adhering to this principle it would certainly benefit the noncommissioned officer in meeting the obligation that the Marine Corps expects from its leaders. To begin, one way to effectively change one’s leadership positively is by examining one’s own attitude.

Leaders to train, their marines for tests, new challenges and teamwork. For the marines to always work together to get the job done. In the military, the marines are individuals they do all mission together. No individuals and marines to keep others up as well. Leaders to make their marines ready for upcoming challenges in mission or tested situation. Teamwork is the key to successful operation. Leaders will watch their marines and tested them for the job they think they could do. Leaders to teach their marine to be successful in mission and tests. Marines to recognize the way of accomplishment.

Leadership is a quality that an individual possesses that allows them to influence others with positivity. The vision focused individual has the organization’s best interests in the forefront and the followers inspired to have a shared vision in the same fashion. When a Marine is promoted a shared vision helps all employees feel as if they are truly part of the organization. A newly promoted Marine must now lead those that they were once a part of. As a new leader, there may be complications of separating oneself from the now junior ranks. The challenge will be the gaining of trust and confidence as a new leader. Marines do have shared feelings of being a Marine but there is much more to leadership than a higher rank. Leadership traits

“Know yourself and seek self-improvement. Use the leadership traits to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. An accurate and clear understanding of yourself and a comprehension of group behavior will help you determine the best way to deal with any given situation.” This is a leadership trait adapted from the United States Marine Corps. As an active duty Marine and Marine leader, for most of my adult life, I had to constantly use this to not only understand who I was, but to also be an effective leader of Marines.

Emotional Stability as leader Marines and parent is a very good skill to have, although this listed as a trait for leadership. The reason i consider this skill because not ever one has this trait. This skill has to be develop and tought as well. By definition you must beable to tolerate frustration and stress. Meaning you'll need to be well-adjusted and haveing the maturity level to deal with anything that is required to face.When I was a Sergeant in the Marine Corp and have about 30 plus Marines under my charge. I face many challenges and situations. Ranging from teaching a marine how to conducts him/her to getting chew out by Superiors because someone mess up or got in trouble. Being a parent to three girls with the oldest being five and

For the leader to set example by explaining the marines duty. For a great leader to informed their marines as themselves. Marines need to be more learned about mission objective. Primary mission to the troops welfare and mission accomplished. Leaders to always be on their marines and any signs of weakness. Never put an marine that could not do the mission the right way. Marines to know why it have to be this way, and for to always listen to their instructor. Marines will reflect your image of your commands and do not be careless. The marines are depending on you.

This theory is based on the premise that there are certain personality characteristics that are essential for a person to possess in order to be a leader. The main emphasis is on what the person is in terms of a constellation of personality traits. This theory searches for that set of universal leadership traits that will assure success. Numerous traits have been suggested: courage, integrity, loyalty, charisma, ambition, intelligence, honesty, clairvoyance, persistence, arrogance, health, political skill, confidence and vision.