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KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan — Leadership is an
integral aspect of the Marine Corps. It's who we are. From
the days of recruit training to long after earning the
title, Marines are leaders.
I had the opportunity to
speak with three sergeants assigned to Combat Logistics
Regiment 3 who have had success as small unit leaders in the
Marine Corps. They explained to me what their three keys to
success as leaders are.
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Sgts. David A. Lopez, left, Roberto A. Martinez, center, and Paul A. Baran
on February 9, 2015 at Kin Blue Training Area. The three sergeants gave their keys to success as small unit leaders in the Marine Corps. Lopez, from Blue Island, Illinois, is a data systems technician. Martinez, from Sterling, Illinois, is a motor transport operator. Baran, from Vancouver, Washington, is a ground radio repairer. The Marines are with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech)
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Sgt. Paul A. Baran, from
Vancouver, Washington, is a ground radio repairer with
CLR-3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary
Force. His leadership keys are:
Dependability.
Everyone is looking for somebody that they can always turn
to. It's very rare to find someone where every time you turn
to them, they get the job done. It's a really simple one.
Always be the guy that somebody can turn to no matter who it
is.
Consistency. Consistency is just displaying the
same traits when you're doing tasks. That helps people take
you seriously and understand you more as a leader. It also
lets people know you're serious when you do things. Just be
consistent every day. It's a simple thing, but it really
stands out.
Presence. You have to let people know
that you're there. Even if you're doing a good job, (if)
people don't really know that you're around and that you're
pulling others around you in to help them out, then you're
not going to have a great effect on a group of people. If
you're only there helping one guy, you're not going to get
your legacy out there. If you show presence and you're
getting yourself out there, then people are going to be
drawn to you and that's going to bring you success.
Sgt. David A. Lopez, from Blue Island, Illinois, is a data
systems technician with CLR-3, 3rd MLG, III MEF. His
leadership keys are:
Confidence. Having confidence
in your decisions and what you're going to do to get the
mission accomplished is important. Having confidence will
give your Marines confidence in you.
Enthusiasm.
You've got to have enthusiasm. Especially in day-to-day
operations, you may get deterred here or there, but having
that enthusiasm to push through will hype others up and give
them a positive energy towards what they're doing.
Communication. Your platoon won't know what they're doing if
you're not telling them and sharing the knowledge with them.
Don't assume Marines have gotten the word. Hold a formation
and get the word out, because they need to be informed.
Sgt. Roberto A. Martinez, from Sterling, Illinois, is a
motor transport operator with CLR-3, 3rd MLG, III MEF. His
leadership keys are:
Emulate. This is a big one.
Throughout our careers we are tested as leaders. It's
important to develop your leadership style through watching
others lead. I'm always learning from other leaders what
type of leader I want to be.
Open-mindedness. You
have to learn to be open minded toward every situation. A
good leader keeps an open mind and knows when it's his time
to take charge and when it's time to shut up, be humble and
hear what somebody else has to say.
Judgment. A
leader has to use good judgment when making decisions. You
need to know things like how hard you can push your Marines
and how you can push them past their limits.
By U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Drew Tech
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2015
The U.S. Marines
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