One night in Saudi Arabia in January 1991, after repositioning forward, I was returning to the 11th Marines’ combat operations center and came upon most of our enlisted fire direction operators gathered together under the camouflage net. As I approached conversation stopped, which usually means “not officer information.” When I asked what was happening, one of the saltier Lance Corporals said, “Sir, we’re deciding who will make it out.” He continued to clarify that the men had prioritized whom they would save first if we were hit by indirect fire and that another captain and I shouldn’t worry; they would ensure we got home. The men have time to consider such questions, while officers and staff non-commissioned officers have the luxury of being busy.
As young leaders, we all know that our people come first, but there is a point or several over time when the giant bell rings in our heads. The big bell rang in my head several times during Desert Storm in 1991 and when I was an artillery battery commander in 1992. It became clear that Marines would do anything for their leaders if they believed the leader would go the extra mile for them. Even more significant was the realization that I would never know who the heroes would be until the situation had passed, so I had to treat every Marine like the hero they may become. That idea underpins every leadership principle, what I call my prime imperative or the leader’s one thing.
As young leaders, we are presented with the quandary of mission versus people and say things like mission first, people always, which is a false choice. Whether Marines or not, leaders who learn early that the mission is irrelevant without the right people to fight and win will win every fight. As young leaders, we don’t know that because we’re worried about appearing soft and not recognizing that without highly competent and motivated Marines, it doesn’t matter what we think about the mission.
So this week, write down one way you will treat all of your people like the heroes they may become.
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Remember, “all things are possible through prayer and heavy deadlifts.”™
