Leadership

Leadership

By: PFC Dale

Leadership and taking the lead plays a big role in our society. Leadership is ubiquitous. From amongst the animals to people, someone or something plays or takes part in the leadership role. The Marine Corps decided to dissect the term leadership, and break it down into principles. One very important principle is “know yourself and seeking self-improvement”.

How to know oneself and seek improvement; according to the Marine Corps you would have to use the leadership traits and evaluate strengths and weaknesses on your behalf. Having an accurate and precise understanding of yourself and have a better understanding of how a certain group of people work will increase your chances of dealing with most situations most effectively. An example would be if you know that you and your group of Marines lack the confidence to work under pressure, you approach the situation in a way you have already analyzed amongst yourself and approach the challenge appropriately. Failure or lack of confidence will not be tolerated, especially as a person in charge, a leader.

Every day as a Marine I know my responsibilities under that title. With the Marine Corps comes a lot of benefits and as I know, a lot of responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is time management. Since boot camp as a part of my time in the Marine Corps, I was taught about time management. On the daily basis a Marine has a lot of duties or assignments he/she must accomplish. Time management plays a key in completing these tasks.

Since boot camp, I was taught to do things with speed. Lately I myself have noticed and others around me notice my lack of sense of urgency. For instance my NCO, for the most part, asks me to be ready at the same time every day: 0700. I often show up exactly on time or even a few minutes late. That is not acceptable. I have only been taught in the Marine Corps to be not even on time but fifteen minutes prior. With that being said there can never really be a valid excuse for me being late unless something or someone physically prevents me from doing so. In that case I as a newly joined Marine know I would even have to contact someone above me and let them know of my situation. Just that common curtesy alone will eliminate any un-professionalism and keep a healthy relationship in my shop or unit.

As a Marine I also know that I tasked with the responsibility to stay freshly groomed in and out of uniform. Since the beginning of my time in the Marine Corps I have been taught to look good always in and out of uniform. And not having a clean shave does not make me look good. Again without ever being taught different since my short time in service, I know I must keep a clean shave. Yet I have failed to do so on multiple occasions.

Respect, since before even thinking of joining any branch of service I was taught the wonderful characteristic of respect. Respect can go a long way anywhere you go. I have heard that phrase a lot in my 19 years of living. I have always been told to treat everyone with respect because I would want them to treat me the same way. In the Marine Corps respect is an even bigger deal than just in the civilian world per say. Being a civilian you can make it far without respect, not in the Marine Corps. Last week I seemed to have lost my mind and disrespected a Marine. To add to the fire it was a SNCO. I know for a fact that showing any sign of disrespect to a Marine can be a bad experience, but to a SNCO is absurd. I often seem to let my inner emotions show outward. That is not a valid excuse to disrespect anyone. Especially my elder if I was a civilian and as a Marine a SNCO. All these mishaps and flaws in my character as a Marine and just a person period, I have already noticed about myself before it was even brought to my attention that others were noticing as well. It is not their job to inform me of this, even if they believe so. No, it is my job to know these things about myself and make improvements before it gets to that point. I will make all the adjustments and better myself before this becomes even more of an issue.

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