WASHINGTON, DC --
“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? For the Marine Corps, I believe the answer is yes.
For nearly thirty years, with our Core Values, the Marine Corps has identified itself through Honor, Courage, and Commitment. The definitions of these three words continue to describe every aspect of treating one another with dignity and respect, adhering to higher standards of personal conduct, and devotion to professionalism and discipline.
The 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General C. E. Mundy Jr., carved out these three supporting pillars from the bedrock of the Marine Corps’ illustrious service and sacrifice on and off the battlefield.
He observed that, “almost without exception, those accounts of heroism and service can be described by the words "Honor, Courage, and Commitment,". He believed that these attributes were the foundation stones of what it means to be a Marine and set down a plan for their implementation and sustainment in Marine Corps Order 1500.56. The purpose to “Enhance transformation into U.S. Marines through a rigorous, thorough reaffirmation of Marine Corps Values training and education.”