Nicholas Lepinski - Fundamentals of Marine Corps Leadership.ppt

Once you are in, you need to make the most of it. According to Nicholas Lepinski, The following eight tips can help you get the most from your military career.

1. Pay Attention
Remember, you are fresh out of basic, which means you have no clue what you are doing. When your first-line supervisor tells you to do something that flies in the face of what you learned in basic, nod your head in a sagely manner and do what they tell you.

2. Educate Yourself
Free promotions stop at E-4. The only way you're going to advance is if you convince your service that you are better than your peers. Take civilian college courses if you can and enroll in military correspondence courses if they are available.

3. Relax, but ...
Don't forget you're in the military now, not back on the block. Unless you're going on a deterrent patrol aboard a submarine packing nukes, the military is essentially a 9-5 job ... Except that you can go to jail if you're late for work.

4. Keep Your Affairs in Order
The unit commanders can be very unforgiving to individuals who make their commands look bad. Stay out of debt, don't bounce checks at the PX, don't drink and drive, don't fight with the locals, etc.

5. Motivation vs. Excessive Flattery
There is a very fine line between being motivated and being a "yes man.'' Don't cross it. Doing your job and doing it well will prove that you're motivated. Following the first sergeant around and volunteering for every detail that comes down from battalion will prove that you're a sycophant (polite term for a butt-kisser) and only doing things to try to gain favor.

6. The Rumor Mill
You will learn quickly that the military runs on rumors. Unfortunately, rumors are usually wrong and can be deadly for morale. If you hear a rumor, take it for what it's worth -- not much. Since you don't know the truth, don't spread the rumor; and whatever you do, don't let rumors mess with your head. Again, rumors are about 10% truth and 90% fiction.

7. Not Like Me
In boot camp, there were no individuals. You were forced to work as a team or suffer the consequences. After boot camp, unit cohesion is not automatic; you have to work at it. You already know from boot camp that you can work successfully with people from all backgrounds and cultures.

8. No Excuses
Never offer an excuse. Your commanding officer or NCO doesn't want to hear your excuse unless they ask for it. Any reason you may offer will be treated as an excuse. "Yes, sir'' or "yes, ma'am'' (or "Sir, yes, sir'' or "Ma'am, yes, ma'am'') is always the best response.

About the Author: Nicholas Lepinski from Ramsey New Jersey is a competent, safety conscience and polite licensed plumber, who is committed to his trade, profession and his customers. He spent 4 years as a Lance corporal in the United States marine corps, after that worked in sales and volunteered with various charities as well as in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

1. Fundamentals of
Marine Corps Leadership
Instructor: Nicholas Lepinski

2. Leadership
Definition:The sum of those qualities of
intellect, human understanding, and moral
character that enables a person to inspire
and control a group of people successfully.

3. Leadership Traits
Leadership traits are
-The qualities of characterthat
everyone possesses in some capacity.
-Good leaders have developed these
qualities as strengths.
-Remember the 14 leadership traits by
the acronym “JJ DID TIE BUCKLE”.

4. 14 Leadership Traits
Justice: Giving reward and punishment according to the merits of
the case in question. The ability to administer a system of
rewards and punishments impartially.
Judgment: The ability to weigh facts and possible solutions on
which to base sound decision.
Dependability: The certainty of proper performance of duty.
Integrity:The uprightness and soundness of moral principles.
The quality of truthfulness and honesty.
Decisiveness:The ability to make decisions promptly and
announce
them in a clear, forceful manner.

5. 14 Leadership Traits (cont)
Tact:The ability to deal with others with respect.
Initiative:Taking action in the absence of orders.
Enthusiasm:The display of sincere interest and exuberance in
the performance of duty.
Bearing:The creating of a favorable impression in carriage,
appearance, and personal conduct at all times.
Unselfishness:Avoidance of providing for one's own comfort and
personal advancement at the expense of others.

6. 14 Leadership Traits (cont)
Courage: The mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or
criticism, but enables a man to proceed in the face of it with
calmness and firmness.
Knowledge: The understanding of a science or an art. The range
of one's information.
Loyalty: The quality of faithfulness to country, Corps, and to your
seniors and subordinates.
Endurance:The mental and physical stamina measured by one’s
ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship.

7. Leadership Principles
Leadership principlesare time tested and
proven guidelinesof leadership. They are
rules of leadership that, if used and followed,
will help you to become a successful leader.

8. 11 Leadership Principles
Know Yourself and Seek Self Improvement.
(1) Analyze yourself objectively.
(2) Have a definite goal and work
to attain it.
(3) Capitalize on strengths and
strive to overcome
weaknesses.

9. 11 Leadership Principles
Be Technically and Tactically Proficient.
(1)Seek a well rounded military education.
(2)Seek opportunities to practice skills.
(3)Keep abreast of current developments in the
military community.

10. 11 Leadership Principles
Seek Responsibility and Take Responsibility for
Your Actions.
(1)Definition of responsibility: A duty or obligation which you
are answerable and held accountable.
(2) Have the courage of your convictions.
(3)Accept just criticism and admit mistakes.

11. 11 Leadership Principles
Make Sound and Timely Decisions.
(1) Develop a logical and orderly thought process.
(2) When time and the situation permit, plan for foreseeable
events.
(3) Announce decisions in time to permit subordinates to
make
necessary plans.

12. 11 Leadership Principles
Set the Example.
(1) Maintain your bearing.
(2) Maintain an optimistic outlook.
(3) Master your emotions.
(4) Share danger and hardship with your Marines.

13. 11 Leadership Principles
Know Your Men and Look out for their Welfare.
(1) Concern yourself with the living conditions of your
Marines.
(2) Encourage individual development and self-improvement.
(3) Ensure that channels of communication are kept open.

14. 11 Leadership Principles
Keep Your Men Informed.
(1) When possible, explain why tasks must be done.
(2) Stop rumors by replacing them with truth.
(3)Keep your unit informed about current legislation and
regulations which effect them.

15. 11 Leadership Principles
Develop a Sense of Responsibility in Your
Subordinates.
(1) Operate through the chain of command.
(2) Tell your subordinates what to do, not how to do it.
(3) Let your men know that you will accept honest errors
without recrimination.
(4) Assign personnel to positions in accordance with
demonstrated or potential ability.

16. 11 Leadership Principles
Ensure That the Task is Understood, Supervised
and Accomplished.
(1) Encourage subordinates to seek immediate clarification of
orders they do not understand.
(2) Question your Marines to determine if there is a
misunderstanding.
(3) Periodically inspect their progress.

17. 11 Leadership Principles
Train Your Men as a Team.
(1) Ensure training is meaningful and its purpose is clear to all
members of the unit.
(2) Ensure that each subordinate leader knows and
understands the members of his unit.
(3) Explain to each person his importance in the
effectiveness of his unit.

18. 11 Leadership Principles
Employ Your Unit in Accordance with Its
Capabilities.
(1)Ensure the tasks assigned are reasonable.
(2) Assign tasks equitably among elements of your unit.
(3) Use the full capabilities of your unit before requesting
assistance.

19. Core Values
HONOR:-INTEGRITY, RESPONSIBILITY,
ACCOUNTABILITY
COURAGE-DO THE RIGHT THING, IN THE RIGHT
WAY, FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
COMMITMENT:-DEVOTION TO THE CORPS AND
FELLOW MARINES

20. TROOP LEADING STEPS
The six troop leading steps are a logical thought process, which aid
in the planning for and execution of a given mission. The
thought process assists unit leaders in making the best use of
time, facilities, and personnel. The degree of consideration
for each step varies with the mission and time available.
The acronym BAMCISis used to guide the leader through the six
troop leading steps:
-Begin Planning
-Arrange for Reconnaissance and Coordination.
-Make Reconnaissance
-Complete Plan
-Issue Order
-Supervise

21. TROOP LEADING STEPS
Begin Planning. A leader should begin planning as
soon as he is assigned a mission to accomplish.
After receiving the order, the leader should plan the
proper use of available time using "reverse
planning." Reverse planning requires the leader to
consider the scheduled time of the last action he
must complete (usually the time of attack) and work
backwards to the receipt of the order.

22. TROOP LEADING STEPS
Arrange for Reconnaissance and Coordination.
Reconnaissance is an investigation of a route or a
specific area. This can either be done physically
on the ground to be investigated or visually from a
map. During this step the leader selects a route
and prepares a schedule for his reconnaissance.
His route and schedule should allow him to cover
as much terrain as the available time allows.

23. TROOP LEADING STEPS
Make Reconnaissance. The next step is to make the
reconnaissance. In some cases the leader may be
unable to make a physical reconnaissance
because of time constraints or to ensure surprise.
If this is the case, the leader should at least
conduct a map reconnaissance. It is during this
step that the leader completes his estimate of the
situation.

24. TROOP LEADING STEPS
Complete Plan. After completing the reconnaissance,
the leader reviews the preliminary plan and decides
on a course of action. The plan should be simple
and should not endanger Marines or equipment
any more than what is necessary to accomplish the
mission. After selecting a course of action, the
leader prepares notes to be used in issuing the
order.

25. TROOP LEADING STEPS
Issue Order. Before issuing the order, the leader
should orient subordinates from a vantage point. If
this is not possible, they should be oriented using
maps, sketches, aerial photos or terrain models.
The order must include sufficient information for
subordinates to carry out the mission, should the
leader become a casualty. Each subordinate
should be assigned specific tasks. The leader
must ensure the plan is understood by soliciting
questions or asking questions of subordinates.

26. TROOP LEADING STEPS
Supervise. Supervise is the most important troop
leading step. During this step the leader ensures
the order is carried out as intended. Often the
leader will position himself with the subordinate
who has the most difficult task or with the least
experienced subordinate leader. Throughout the
execution of the plan, the leader must continue to
analyze the situation and be prepared to quickly
adjust the plan if necessary.

27. Conclusion
“The minute you think that you’ve got everything
it takes to lead Marines, that’s when you’ve stopped
learning and stopped trying to be a better Marine.
That’s when you’ve quit on your men.“
Nicholas Lepinski

28. Questions?