Throughout my career, I have led by example, never asking my Marines to do something that I hadn’t done or wouldn’t do myself.  Always maintaining high standards of conduct, appearance and morals. 

Work ethic and self discipline.  I rarely missed work due to sickness or personal reasons.  I was late for work only a few times over my entire career (I never got caught!)  I do have a tendency to blow off meetings that bore me or don’t seem to have much if any value added.  I developed a solid work ethic early on in my career.  A three or four Marine team was often reduced to one or two Marines due to leave, working parties and external requirements.  The remaining Marines were expected to complete the assigned mission, regardless of who was present for duty as if the whole team was there.  While assigned to the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, California, I was introduced to another type of work ethic.  This was known as “job security”, complete enough work to keep the production line moving on schedule and no more.  I made a habit of completing at least twice as much work as was required.  I achieved my goal by coming up with time and labor saving techniques.  One example is, I was given several sprocket carriers and told to clean out the bolt holes.  The special tool was a thread tap of the appropriate size with no handle.  I started out using an 8 inch crescent wrench which was too slow, then moved to a ratchet wrench which was better.  I soon tired of the slow progress I was making and checked out an air ratchet.  I had all the sprocket bolt holes cleaned out in no time.  My supervisor got mad because in the process, I destroyed the tap.  I explained that the amount of time I saved more than offset the purchase of several more of the taps.  Later in my career as a supervisor, I was assigned to a shop that had been on “overtime” for months on end, with no light at the end of the tunnel.  Production was slow with just enough getting done to keep each section out of the limelight.  I lurked around the shops for a few days just watching what was going on.  The Marines would work until the typical end of the work day, then mill around acting like they were working until the overtime period ended.  I asked my boss if I could cancel the overtime for a while to check something out and was given approval.  I told the Marines that if they managed their time properly and gave me a solid eight hours every day, there would be no need for overtime.  It worked, production increased even though the amount of hours “worked” decreased.  When “overtime” was required to complete a specific mission, I told the Marines that it would be for a specified time frame and be announced as far ahead of time as possible.  I also promised them a “day off” at the end of the overtime even if they completed the overtime mission early.  This work philosophy has worked for me time and time again. 

Loyalty.  Marines as a whole are known for their loyalty to God, Corps and Country.  I feel that I should “owe” the entity that hires me and not consider another job offer after I accept theirs.  In my heart, I know I need to take the best job that I am qualified for, even if it means that I must decline to work for someone who offered me a job first.  I must also consider the benefits of accepting one job over another, such as pay, health care and retirement plans.  I take responsibility for my failures and those of my Marines.  I tried to find a way to have my Marines take the credit for our successes.

Technical/Mechanical skills.  I took my bicycle apart when I was nine or ten years old and couldn’t get it back together.  To top it off, I lost a few parts.  I learned a couple of valuable lessons from that event.  Don’t fix something that isn’t broke and keep track of all your parts and pieces.   During my Marine Corps career, I was able to attend three repair courses.  I was initially taught how various systems worked, then was taught the specifics of the equipment I would be responsible for maintaining.  While I was assigned to First Tank Battalion, I was left on my own as the other Marines in the Team I was assigned to were on special duty.  I was complaining to the Gunnery Sergeant that I was bored with “just doing PM’s” (Preventive Maintenance) on the Tanks.  The Gunny asked if I knew how to troubleshoot electrical problems.  Cocky me said of course, so I was given a tank with a couple of pressure gages that didn’t work.  I spent two weeks troubleshooting the Tank from end to end, but every day, another problem with the gages or sensors popped up.  I eventually figured out that the Gunny was changing good sensors and gages for bad ones each evening after I left the shop.  I “borrowed” all the gages and sensors from a “good” tank and put them on the tank I was troubleshooting, then replaced them one at a time until I had all the bad gages and sensors identified.  Then I let the Gunny know I had figured out what the real problem was.  He asked if I learned anything about electrical troubleshooting, which of course I had.  Another example is during the Tank Turret Repair course, we were taught how a typical Hydraulic system operates, then we were taught each of the hydraulic circuits in the Tank Turret.  I have found that this is one of the most effective ways to teach mechanics and it has helped me to repair several different types of equipment without formal training.  

Limited network.  The nomadic environment of the Military leads to a person having many acquaintances, but potentially very few real lifelong friends. It is also difficult to develop and grow a network of people that are outside the active Military.  

Marine mentality. (perception)  Weakness is looked down on (to include perceived weaknesses).  I find it hard to be sensitive to other peoples personal problems.  I expect people to do what they are told immediately and without complaint or questioning “why”.  I often find it easier to do a job myself than to train another person to do it and then have to go back and fix the mistakes.  Zero defects mentality.  I have trouble developing a good rapport with people, which affects my ability to listen to problems, provide support and motivate them.  I find it hard to express my condolences, convey my feelings and be sensitive when bad things happen.