If anyone has recently tried to drive from the front gate to the flight line, you know that it can be quite an interesting feat to get there.
With the ever-changing road closures, you are often forced to endlessly weave through a veritable maze until you can finally emerge somewhere near where you need to be.
Such can be said for life in general.
Often, the path of most resistance is the one that brings us the greatest lessons. Selecting the easy way isn’t always the right way to accomplish a task.
We often learn the most from difficulties, hardships and mistakes in both our personal and professional lives.
Like my grandfather always says, “There’s a right way, a wrong way and a government way.â€
Every time I think of that saying, I also hear my gunny saying, “Treat every decision like a career decision.â€
It’s a fancy way of telling us not to be idiots, but it’s a valid point.
We are held to a higher standard than the vast majority of Americans, and in this maze of life, it’s important for us to make wise decisions. We might not be given many choices as Marines, but when we are, we are expected to make the right decision, right away, whether it’s on duty or off.
A large part of what helps us make those decisions are our role models, for better or worse. I try to learn a little bit of something from everyone, be it something I want to do or a leadership style I want to emulate, or the opposite.
As Marines, we serve as role models for our junior Marines and others within the community. In my position, I often find myself out in the community in uniform, representing the station and the Corps, or covering others that are doing so for this newspaper.
To me, the best parts are the kids who want to take pictures with us because we are Marines. To them, we’re heroes and role models, and we need to remember that and to continue to be a positive influence on the community.
If anyone has recently tried to drive from the front gate to the flight line, you know that it can be quite an interesting feat to get there.
With the ever-changing road closures, you are often forced to endlessly weave through a veritable maze until you can finally emerge somewhere near where you need to be.
Such can be said for life in general.
Often, the path of most resistance is the one that brings us the greatest lessons. Selecting the easy way isn’t always the right way to accomplish a task.
We often learn the most from difficulties, hardships and mistakes in both our personal and professional lives.
Like my grandfather always says, “There’s a right way, a wrong way and a government way.â€
Every time I think of that saying, I also hear my gunny saying, “Treat every decision like a career decision.â€
It’s a fancy way of telling us not to be idiots, but it’s a valid point.
We are held to a higher standard than the vast majority of Americans, and in this maze of life, it’s important for us to make wise decisions. We might not be given many choices as Marines, but when we are, we are expected to make the right decision, right away, whether it’s on duty or off.
A large part of what helps us make those decisions are our role models, for better or worse. I try to learn a little bit of something from everyone, be it something I want to do or a leadership style I want to emulate, or the opposite.
As Marines, we serve as role models for our junior Marines and others within the community. In my position, I often find myself out in the community in uniform, representing the station and the Corps, or covering others that are doing so for this newspaper.
To me, the best parts are the kids who want to take pictures with us because we are Marines. To them, we’re heroes and role models, and we need to remember that and to continue to be a positive influence on the community.