Marine Corps Culture    

RUNNING HEAD: AN ASSESSMENT OF MARINE

An Assessment of Marine Corps Culture

Shane Wills, Maria Moore, Sharon Steele, Carlos Noel

University of Phoenix

10/26/2004


An Assessment of Marine Corps Culture

        On November 10, 1775, at the Tunn Tavern in Philadelphia, PA, one of the most respected and admired, and not to mention feared organizations was created by the order of the Continental Congress.  Although the Marines original duties were to serve aboard Navy ships in order to both protect the ship, and board enemy ships as well; today they are seen globally in our embassies, as a part of peace keeping missions, training allied soldiers, fighting terrorism, and performing community services such as the Toys for Tots campaign.  Marine Corps culture is a culture that is understood by only a few, but admired by many.

        Marine Corps philosophy is one that starts with leadership.  As General Charles C. Krulak in his “Commandant’s Planning Guidance” in 1999 stated, “Leadership is the heart of our institutional character,” (Jones, 1999).  General Krulak also went on to say that, “Leadership drives the process of making Marines Marines,” (Jones 1999).  Decentralization, or the bottoms up theory of leadership, is the main focus of Marine leadership training.  The basic leadership rule is “The Rule of Three”.  What this means, is that a Corporal has a three-man fire team, a squad leader has three fire teams, and a Platoon Commander and Platoon Sergeant have three squads (Freedman, 1998).  This leadership structure is one that helps keep everyone’s job manageable, and gives each individual some form of decision-making authority.  This leadership structure is one that has been emulated by many businesses and corporations across the United States.  Former Marine and CEO of Quaker Oats, Robert Morrison, and former Marine and Vice-Chairman of Service Master Co., are a couple of examples of former Marines brining this leadership style into successful businesses (Freedman, 1998).

        There are many values and traits that that are instilled into each and every Marine.  There is a set of Core Values that forms the bedrock of each Marines character.  These Core Values are honor, courage, and commitment ().

Honor, includes ethical and moral behavior.  Courage is the inner strength that enables each Marine to do what is right.  It is also the mental, moral, and physical strength ingrained in Marines in order to carry them through the challenges of combat.  Commitment is the continuing dedication to Corps and country (.).

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        There is a saying in the Marine Corps that you can make the best of any situation, or in other words, adapt and overcome.  The physical workspace that Marines find themselves in can change on a daily basis.  It can be anywhere from and office, to the cockpit of a helicopter, or when times aren’t so great the battlefield.  Marines are trained to adapt to any living condition.  They might find themselves at home with their family one night, and walking through the jungles of Central Asia the next.  In the mind of a Marine, both work and home are ...

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