Summary:
- In the Marine Corps there is a certain leadership goal that begins with each Marine trained and indoctrinated in the concept that every Marine is always a rifleman first
- By creating an ethos that each Marine is always a rifleman first the Marine Corps has ensured that the best leaders will always be capable of leading or following.
- The best leaders will always be ready to take on any additional responsibility or, and more importantly, fall back to ensure that they can fill the role of a basic infantryman. It's not a perfect solution but the mission is always the most critical effort and no Marine is more or less important in the completion of the mission
- But In 'real' life the same ethos of every man or woman pulling for a common goal would be helpful. In my experience, people are sometimes able to keep their own ego out of the room and help move the ball down the field. More often than not they don't.
- In any group or organization the people involved are all there because they believe in the group. Each person brings a certain level of skill or desire to the common goal and yet.....yet, when the rubber hits the road it's never so simple. The simple reason is that each person needs to be fulfilled in their effort, which is fine, but when everyone seeks to get the same level of fulfillment then the rubber takes a very long time to vulcanize into a useful product.
Conclusion: It really is OK to be a simple rifleman every now and then...set your ego aside.
What I have found in the course of my own life is that in most situations there may only be one outcome possible, although it is always good to seek others that may be better. Why then, especially governing body to governing body, do we only arrive at the obvious outcome after countless, needless hours on what I will generously describe as negotiating? Because of what I mentioned earlier - ego.
Part of the art of being a good soldier is clearly understanding what the mission is then either supporting or leading. And part of the art of being a good leader is recognizing when someone else is a better leader or may have a better idea, that the mission is paramount.
It really is OK to be a simple rifleman every now and then.
