Memorandums

Marines

Memorandums

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

PROFICIENCY

Proficiency is more than skill and more than adherence to orders and regulations. It is the combination of both. There is a line in the SNCO Creed, “… to strive for perfection knowing no mortal has every achieved it.”

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CHARACTER

Character is defined as the complex mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation. For Marines, nothing should be more important to the nature of leadership than character. Individual skill or MOS performance should not supersede the character of the United States Marine Corps. As such, character, above skill, is more significant in the expectation of a United States Marine.

Stand Ready

Today’s Marine Corps is the result of a continuing evolution in doctrine, tactics, policy and procedure. Our legacy is defined not only by grit and valor, but ingenuity, adaptability and resourcefulness. With each conflict, we learned new lessons, tested new concepts and fielded new capabilities.

Carrying on the Legacy

When we celebrate Black History Month in the Marine Corps, we honor the Marines who, through their accomplishments and dedication to duty, led our ranks to grow into a fighting force that is diverse in people and diverse in thought.

Core Values, Not Just Words

“Honor, Courage, and Commitment are not just words; they frame the way Marines are to live and act…” -30th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Carl E. Mundy Jr. Can any organization truly capture all the traits, characteristics, and principles needed to execute sound leadership, while encompassing the diverse needs and experiences of its members into a single set of values?

Meeting the Standard

“Demanding superior performance and enforcing high standards should not be viewed as draconian, but rather, should be expected by professionals.” – Gen. David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps More than a Catchphrase. Saying that the Marine Corps is a “Standards” based organization is more than just reciting a catchphrase. Whether we are talking about the basic physical standards required to join, the moral and ethical standards needed to serve, or the individual and unit-training standards necessary to win our Nation’s battles, standards are the foundation of what makes the Marine Corps successful on and off the battlefield.

Core Values Memo

1. The great majority of Marines today live our core values on a daily basis and exhibit the true warfighting culture of our Corps. A few do not. This memorandum concerns them. 2. Americans are justly proud of their Marine Corps – not simply because of our battlefield successes, but because of the values our individual Marines embody: Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Living up to our reputation requires constant vigilance.

The "New" Corps Memo

“Old breed? New breed? There’s not a damn bit of difference so long as it’s the Marine breed.” – Chesty Puller The “New” Corps. Over the course of time there has been a tendency of the older generation of Marines to view the newer generations as not measuring up. Interestingly, those Marines were told the same thing when they were “boots”. Each line in the sand calls into question the ability of aspiring leaders to serve with as much honor, courage, and commitment as the last. These “lines in the sand” stretch from Iwo Jima, Chosin Reservoir, and Hue City all the way to Fallujah, Marjah, Sangin, and countless other battles. Like previous generations, this “New Corps” has made their own historic contributions to our legacy and proven their mettle in the crucible of combat.

SMMC Non Negotiables Memo

The United States Marine Corps has a long and illustrious history of success on the battlefield. We are unique in the way we train and fight. Our culture is one of competing and winning with a time tested tradition of evolving to adapt to the current and future warfighting environment. The Marine Corps is always evolving, but the foundation of who we are never changes. We have constantly reinforced the basics throughout our history. We know that in every battle and skirmish, the ingenuity, leadership, and ability of Marines wins the day. New weapons, new equipment, and new tactics have always been a part of how we fight new enemies in new environments, but the adaptability and strength of the individual Marine remains at our core. This is a valuable point when considering how we prepare the next generation of Marines for the next battle. To remain a certain force for an uncertain world our tolerance for change must increase, but we must never accept mediocrity or the lowering of our standards. We are all standing beside one another on the front lines of the future, to be “The most ready, when the Nation is least ready.”

Marine Corps Ball Celebration Memo

What Matters Most. Marines, unique to the Marine Corps is how we celebrate the legacy and history of our Corps; specifically, the Marine Corps Birthday. With the fall comes the time to intentionally reflect and focus on what is most important to us as Marines. We do this wherever we are in the world and in every operational state. This year, that state likely will be in one of a global pandemic. First, we must continue to train, to fight in order that we continue to win! Leaders are trusted to ensure safety of training, pandemic or no.

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps