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Sergeant's Lesson: Building Leaders
of Marines
by USMC Sgt. Lisa R. Strickland - July 21, 2011 |
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (7/15/2011) - June 6
marked 93 years since the famous World War I battle at Belleau,
France. The Marines of 4th Marine Brigade fought with unprecedented
gusto through the wheat fields of the small French villages, such as
Bouresches, Lucy-le-Bocage and Belleau. |
Retired Col. Dick Camp, author of “The Devil Dogs at Belleau
Wood,” speaks with, left to right, Sgts. Ricardo Quintanilla,
Brandon McCormick and Jarred Bluecoat about Marines who fought in
the World War I battle at Belleau Wood. A select group of sergeants
and one corpsman from 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing studied the Vietnam
veteran's book prior to visiting the battlegrounds in Belleau,
France, July 4-8, 2011.
Photo by USMC Sgt. Lisa R. Strickland |
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The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing put together a group of 42 sergeants,
one corpsman, three sergeants major and one lieutenant colonel for
the first 2nd MAW noncommissioned officers' staff ride to Belleau
Wood. Second MAW commanding general Maj. Gen. Jon M. Davis purposely
chose sergeants to attend the trip to separate them from the
corporals to, one, give them a reward for being the top sergeant in
their squadron, two, open the lines of communication between
sergeants in the wing, and three, help build strong leaders of
Marines.
I was fortunate enough to join the 41 2nd MAW
sergeants picked to go on the unique trip, and it was a profound
experience that I will never forget.
Before this trip, I only
really knew what my drill instructors in boot camp taught me about
the battle of Belleau Wood. I had never been to Europe and was
excited about the trip and to learn more about how the Marine Corps
earned its reputation and title of Devil Dog. |
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Once I set foot on the hallowed ground it was an unexpected
experience. To see the 93-year old trenches and stand among the
thousands of crosses, each marking a life lost in those gruesome
battles was just haunting. |
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The first day in France, we visited the Aisne-Marne Cemetery
and Memorial. Inside the Chapel the walls are carved with
the names of those who were never found or identified, 1,060
names total.
It was breathtaking to think that each
one of those names, which covered the wall from floor to
ceiling, was a man who died there 93 years ago; each who had
a mother and a father, maybe a wife, maybe kids. They fought
courageously and believed in what they were doing.
We
also toured the many battlegrounds passing the rolling hills
of Belleau, France, which were a patchwork of green and tan;
some fields growing wheat like those of 1918.
I stood
there and imagined the determined men wading through the
waist-high wheat, parting the fields like a boat in water
with machine gun fire spraying across the field, snapping
overhead. To stand where Marines such as Sgt. Maj. Daniel
Joseph “Dan” Daly, two-time Medal of Honor recipient, stood
and led Marines to the fight was a surreal experience.
Those men were the mold breakers of the Marine Corps who
helped shape what it means to be a Marine today.
Reading and hearing the stories of the Marines who fought in
1918, I was also reminded of the love Marines have for their
fellow Marines. Those Marines took care of each other and
died for each other. In my opinion that love hasn't changed.
All the sergeants were asked what they learned on the
trip and what they planned to take back to their units.
I want to encourage my junior Marines to build
leadership qualities no matter their rank. I want to
influence them to be decisive and confident in their
decisions. I want to also make sure that through my
leadership and actions that they know I care about them.
It's easy to require the mission to get done and forget
to check on your Marines; make sure they are okay and know,
without a doubt, that someone cares about them. I want to
make sure my Marines don't doubt it.
Sgt. Maj. Thomas
E. Sherwood of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron
recently asked a room full of NCOs, what is a perfect
corporal? All of us stared at him blankly. Did he want us to
spout off all the characteristics of an affective NCO?
“A sergeant,” Sherwood answered before anyone got the
courage to stand up and give their best guess.
Getting face time with other sergeants across the wing is
difficult. However, on this trip I was surrounded by fellow
“perfect corporals.” I learned a lot from the sergeants
throughout the staff ride. Some are better at remembering
orders and regulations; others have a knack for public
speaking and gathering their Marines for on-the-spot PMEs,
but I learned something new from each one, and I plan to use
those lessons to become a better leader of Marines. |
By USMC Sgt. Lisa R. Strickland, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2011
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