New Years Resolutions For Marines and the Rest of Us

I penned the following on New Years 2013 and though it was focused on Marines I believe it has greater application to others who are mission focused, require discipline to perform and simply do hard things ..... can think of many folks that applies to today like our courageous medical workers dealing daily with COVID .... So am retransmitting for all to read, hopefully enjoy a little bit and get focused for 2022. Stay safe. Vaccines are good.

It has become common practice as we enter the New Year to make resolutions of what we are going to change or do better in our lives or in how we interact with others, both socially and professionally. From losing weight or eating less to doing more exercise, the New Year presents an opportunity to recommit to those acts and behaviors we know are better for us and those around us. So, in the spirit of the New Year the following are some recommended resolutions specifically designed for Marines of various ranks and billets.?But first some PME on resolutions . . . “New Year’s Day celebrations began in pre-Christian times, beginning with the Babylonians in March but changed to January by the Romans. January gets its name from Janus, the two-faced god who looks backwards into the old year and forwards into the new. Janus was also the patron and protector of arches (Ianus in Latin), gates, doors, doorways, endings and beginnings. The custom of setting “New Years resolutions” began during this period in Rome, as they made such resolutions with a moral flavor: mostly to be good to others. But when the Roman Empire took Christianity as its official state religion in the 4th century, these moral intentions were replaced by prayers and fasting. For example, Christians chose to observe the Feast of the Circumcision on January 1 in place of the revelry otherwise indulged in by those who did not share the faith. This replacement had varying degrees of success over the centuries, and Christians hesitated observing some of the New Year practices associated with honoring the pagan god Janus.” (Bill Petro)?

Interesting . . . . I guess observing a religious event lost out to revelry over time.?

Now some resolutions for Marines . . .?

Things I resolve not to ever say again . . .?

“It’s locked on” . . . sorry, but nothing is locked on other than death and taxes. Saying this phrase also makes me think you have stopped monitoring the event.?

“To be honest,” or “To tell you the truth.” What else would you do, Marine??

“My Marines.” Or any phrase that begins with I, me or my. The Marines in your charge are not yours . . . they belong to America. In principle, using the words “us, we and our” is always much more cohesive and selfless than the all too common, “I, me and my.”?

When briefing to the senior officer present avoid saying, “as you understand” or “as you have been briefed” . . . If the senior officer already understands the issue or has already been briefed, why are you wasting time by covering the subject again??

To a senior, “thank you taking time out of your busy schedule to . . . .” If the senior didn’t have the time you wouldn’t be there, and besides, what are leaders supposed to do but meet and interact with the staff and the command.?

I resolve to be a better speller and practitioner of the written and spoken word . . .?

Ordnance vice ordinance. Example. “There should be an ordinance against using the word ordinance to describe ordnance. Boom!”?

Exacerbated vice exasperated. Example. “The situation was exacerbated by his exasperation.”?

Principal vice principle. “A main principle of maintenance is to maintain our principal end items in a high state of readiness, at least according to the staff principal.”?

The Nation of Colombia and the District of Columbia.?

Lose vice loose. “He did not want to lose his dog due to violating the City Ordinance on leash use, because the animal was on the loose.”?

Bare and bear . . . break and brake . . . . effect and affect . . . maybe we should all resolve to use our dictionary more often??

On training, I resolve . . .?

That all training will be planned in detail . . . we will not just show up in the field.?

Our unit will ALWAYS have a daily training schedule that we will follow to the best of our ability . . . despite changes to our plan by higher . . . and we will NEVER simply put “Daily Routine 0700-1700” as our plan of the day.?

As a Commander, our unit is going to provide subordinates with more white space to train.?

As a Commander our unit will do everything it can to “protect” scheduled training from being changed/cancelled . . . at Regimental/Group or higher commander, only the commander can cancel training that has been scheduled, planned for, resourced, and is less than 2 weeks from execution, especially training involving ranges, ammo and other hard to coordinate support like aviation.?

If the CO provides white space to train, we are going to plan interesting and challenging training focused on combat preparedness, leadership and equipment maintenance and management.?

All infantry units will conduct one 10-mile foot march per week.?

Our unit will never go to the field without an OPORD and training schedule.?

Our unit will never go admin or bivouac during a training event . . . we are always in the offense or defense, even during an AAR. . . we are in an operation until we return to the unit garrison area.?

If we finish the training day early and all objectives have been met, we will sound liberty.?

Our unit will conduct PME for all leaders, corporal and above, for one hour each week.?

Every Marine and Sailor will fire their T/O weapon once a month, ideally live fire, but if that is not possible we will use a simulator.?

As leaders, we will spend more effort on developing realistic, challenging training . . . . This training will include input from subordinate leaders.?

On counseling/engaging the Marines in our unit I resolve to . . .?

Ensure all Marines are personally counseled by a SNCO and Officer on the pro/cons.?

Ensure all Marines receive a meaningful constructive discussion on their performance during fitrep counseling.?

Commit as a Senior SNCO and Commander to having frank discussions with all Marines during retention interviews and tell hard truths to those who might want to stay but are not the best and most qualified.?

On logistics, supply and accountability . . . I resolve . . .?

That the Responsible Officer will be an Officer and those CMRs will not be delegated to SNCOs when there is an Officer who can and should be the RO.?

That as an RO I will find and account for all the gear the unit possesses, not JUST what is on the CMR. There is a word for failing to do so and it is called fraud.?

That our unit will find and account for all SL-3 and ensure that we inventory it monthly, at a minimum. This includes all the SL-3 in desks, lockers, chests, closets and POVs.?

That the SOPs/desktop procedures we have developed will actually be followed for maintenance management procedures.?

On individual performance . . . .?

We will all PT more and sleep/get more rest.?

We will drink less alcohol and eat a better diet.?

We will do our best to quit using tobacco products.?

If weight lifting is my thing I will do more aerobics and stretching.?

If running is my thing, I will do more strength work.?

If Cross Fit is my thing, I will get 5 fellow Marines to join the sessions.?

Our goal is to read 5 books this year off the CMC’s reading list for our rank/grade.?

We will expend as much effort on improving our mental fitness and agility as on our physical fitness.?

On being a Marine . . .?

We will respect our institution by setting a superior example for all around us, regardless of our rank.?

If we see another Marine doing the “wrong thing” we will correct, him or her . . . don’t assume all know the right thing and just choose not to follow the rules . . . don’t be a bystander.?

We will not do anything to embarrass ourselves, our unit, our family, or our Nation.?

We will love each other, our unit, and our family and friends and do everything to make all around us better by our presence and actions of deed and word.?

We will be Marines.?

Happy New Year to all!