Marine Corps Values Essay

I’ve been a Marine Judge Advocate for over 17 years. I say that not to admit guilt but state pride in my duties and profession. Despite the well-worn clichés and easy cynicism about lawyers, I am an unrepentant leader of Marines who questions the Marine Corps approach to character development in our Corps and the oft mere reliance on the “Judge” to teach “ethics” to our Marines. We, as leaders, need to do more to make sure the character that takes command in moments of crucial choices is well-developed in our Marines and beyond reproach. I’ve seen a great deal during my military career, from petty and major criminal conduct to extraordinary demonstrations of integrity and courage, both physical and moral, under fire. Some of the people I’ve met over the years fit the stereotype of a self-serving individual unwilling …show more content…
Yet, an overemphasis on competence in our daily and annual training and a lack of a robust character development has led to what I frame is a 'crisis of character' in our force today. The development of the character of our force is a daily endeavor and cannot live solely in classroom periods of instruction less we continue to fail in our responsibility to foster our profession and return quality citizens to society after their service. The Marine Corps is an awesome warfighting organization with a storied heritage, tradition and legacy as America’s expeditionary force, yet those familiar with its history, or for that matter