| eadership Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Part I," | | | | • No one has too much rank to dig. |
| Marine First Sergeant Paul Berry’s after-action | | | | Decentralized Management |
| report on Operation Iraqi Freedom offered priceless | | | | Managers always remain responsible; smart managers |
| advice for business owners and managers. In Part II, | | | | delegate, pushing authority down to the lowest |
| 1stSgt Berry reveals the close attention he pays to | | | | practical levels. Marine training emphasizes |
| the well-being of the 200 enlisted Marines in his unit. | | | | decentralized management: split-second |
| We’ll see why looking after your people, | | | | decision-making by small-unit leaders and NCOs usually |
| coaching top performance, cutting through red tape, | | | | based on incomplete information, in life-or-death |
| and letting savvy middle managers make the calls, | | | | situations. Berry’s comments about letting |
| are sound business leadership practices and | | | | NCOs—middle managers--the men and women |
| managerial common sense in anyone’s book. | | | | who get things done, make the calls provide clues to |
| Leadership & Mentoring | | | | running a leaner, quicker-reacting business: |
| “Nothing can quite compare with Marine | | | | • NCOs run the fight no matter how much |
| Corps training and combat service to stretch your | | | | you get on the radio. Sit back and listen to them. |
| leadership skills in bringing people together to | | | | You might just learn something from them. When |
| accomplish a mission," --Phillip Rooney, vice-chairman, | | | | you think you need a SSgt. to do the job, grab a Cpl. |
| The ServiceMaster Co. | | | | or Sgt. and he will do it better and faster. |
| Marine First Sergeants have a unique role in their | | | | • Study Convoy operations. If you have |
| units. As the senior enlisted members, they’re | | | | CAAT, JAV, or LAR [anti-tank missiles] put them in |
| mother hens setting high expectations for the other | | | | charge and have them run the convoy. You may be |
| enlisted Marines, many still in their teens, and old | | | | senior but they know how to do this and this lets |
| hands providing a steadying influence for junior | | | | commanders worry about the bigger picture. |
| officers often fresh from Officer Candidate and Basic | | | | • NVGs [night-vision goggles] work. Use them. |
| School. 1st Sgt. Berry’s straight-ahead writing | | | | All night devices worked great. Batteries can be an |
| illustrates examples of both roles, so for all you | | | | issue. Plan! |
| would-be coaches and mentors out there: | | | | • MOLLIE LBV [load-bearing vests] is crap. |
| Welcome to Small-Unit Leadership, 101: | | | | We put all of our gear on the flak jackets. |
| • Never baby your Marines. Expect the world | | | | • Use snipers. They saved us many times. |
| from them. Never back off. They want to show you | | | | Give them a mission and let them go. |
| they can do the job. | | | | • Every Marine is a driver and should have a |
| • Get your Marines’ mail to them | | | | license. In Weapons Company, that needs to be |
| even if it means shooting your way to them with | | | | every Marine from the CO down. |
| LAVs. They get mail and they will do anything for | | | | Summing Up – Paying Attention to the Little |
| you. | | | | Things |
| • Use the SAT [satellite] Phone. Forget the | | | | Sir, sorry for going on and on, but there is so much |
| cost. Grab a few young Marines when you can and | | | | more, Berry concluded. As a 1stSgt, I only paid |
| let them call home. That Marine could lead the entire | | | | attention to the little things. |
| Battalion after he talks to his wife after a fire fight. | | | | The WARLORDS are backloading. We are bringing |
| • Get the Chaplain to your pos [position] | | | | every Marine and Sailor home. I can't even begin to |
| even if you have to fight your way to him. We did | | | | say what an honor it was to serve beside those |
| Easter service after stand-to at 0300Z. | | | | young Marines. They did everything asked of them |
| • Buy a short-wave radio and get the news. | | | | and asked for more. True professionals. No stupid |
| Write it down under a poncho at 0200. Get the | | | | mistakes. No stupid safety issues; just good hard |
| baseball scores out to the Marines and you are a | | | | execution at the NCO level. |
| hero. Have all the e-mail addresses of your | | | | I am not worthy to stand in the same formation |
| Marines’ wives. Get to any HHQ and send a | | | | with these men. They all grew several years older in |
| blanket e-mail to all of them. | | | | a matter of weeks. Someone was looking out for us |
| • It's OK to allow the Marines to take their | | | | on this one. Weapons Company's new motto is "no |
| blouse off if it is hot. Their skins get tough fast. If | | | | one works harder". |
| it’s really hot the can go around without | | | | Semper Fi, 1stSgt Berry |
| blousing their boots. Don't worry SgtMajor, they | | | | It's good to know guys like these are defending our |
| won't do it in the rear. | | | | freedom and the cause of liberty. |
| • Promote your Marines on time if you can. | | | | Want More? Send questions and comments to w.. |
| We promoted a Marine in 81s to Merit SSgt in the | | | | Sources: |
| field a few hours after a fire fight. Can't begin to put | | | | • “From the Warlords,” 1stSgt. |
| a price on that. | | | | Paul Berry, USMC, |
| • If nothing is going on, make the junior | | | | • “A First Sergeant's Timeless Advice |
| Marines sleep and you watch the radios for a few | | | | To Fellow Marines,” By David Wood, |
| hours. | | | | Newhouse News Service, 2003 |
| • Dig holes; dig many of them. Use demo | | | | • “Corps Values,” David H. |
| [demolitions] if you have to. Dig down at all cost. | | | | Freeman, Inc. Magazine, April 2001 |
| Can’t dig down? Use as many sandbags as | | | | • Assistance with acronyms provided by 1st |
| you can to build up. | | | | Lt. William L. Willard, Jr. |