| class="googleright"> | | | | Smedley Butler, and SGTMAJ Dan Daly to name a |
| Sitting here completely exhausted and mentally | | | | few, has embedded traditions of outstanding |
| drained from todayâs activities, I watch a | | | | leadership in the Marine Corps that still holds true with |
| bead of sweat run down my arm and drip on a piece | | | | todayâs leaders throughout the Corps. |
| of paper that has many of my career interest | | | | However, todayâs Marine is smarter and |
| written on it. The temperature on the flight line is a | | | | more independent than their predecessors were, and |
| scalding ninety-six degrees, and there is not a piece | | | | this fact alone causes conflict and frustration for |
| of shade in sight. Facing me, is a line with at least | | | | inspiring leaders like me to stay motivated. Leaders in |
| two-hundred Marines and Sailors waiting to devour | | | | todayâs Corps think smarter, not harder, |
| lunch and complain to me about not receiving enough | | | | and practically in whatever decision is made. This |
| french fries and cake. I, now completely oblivious to | | | | ânewâ way of thinking in the minds |
| the countless planes that are flying over my head at | | | | of Marines who have been in the Corps for a long |
| mach speed attempting to burst my eardrums, I still | | | | time, are under the impression that this new way of |
| try to concentrate on my current mission, and | | | | thinking is softening the Corps. For instance, if I was |
| upcoming mission due on October 21, 2003 at | | | | leading a firing range and the temperature was forty |
| eighteen hundred hours. | | | | degrees and raining. My practical decision would be to |
| From Lieutenant General Chesty Puller, Sergeant | | | | let the Marines wear their gortex jackets to stay |
| Major (SGTMAJ) Edgar Huff, Brigadier General | | | | warm. |