Some forty years ago as the wettest behind the ears Second Lieutenant, I sat half dozing in class when the crusty old mustang major told a story. For the uninitiated, “mustang” is a term of respect and endearment reserved for commissioned officers who had been previously been non-commissioned officers. They are easily identified because they are somewhat older than their counterparts and by the good conduct ribbon (not given to commissioned officers) which they proudly wear.
It seems that when this Major, I wish I could remember his name, was 17 years old there was a neighborhood bully who would beat him up every time he saw him. Frustrated and angry, the he joined the Marine Corps. He went off to Parris Island and graduated honor man in his platoon. He could run for miles, do a hundred pushups, a dozen pull-ups and fly over the obstacle course.
When he came home for his first leave, he went looking for the bully. Sure enough he found him and the bully beat him up again.
The major told this story to illustrate a point. What makes the Marine Corps special is not the fact that it has tough guys. It does indeed have a lot of them. But tough guys are everywhere. Every military organization has them to a greater or lesser degree.
What makes the Marine Corp so special and hence successful are teamwork, leadership and esprit de corps. Teamwork is what makes real the adage that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. But, everything is meaningless without direction. From the PFC fire team leader to the four star Commandant, leadership is taught, developed and emphasized. While the Marine Corps is not perfect, its toughness, teamwork, leadership and sprit de corps make it as close to invincible as any human organization can be.
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