Proficiency Without Professionalism Equals Mediocrity

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Recently at Camp Lejeune, two events occurred that portend a larger problem for the Marine Corps. A lance corporal, while in the 7-Day Store, was disrespectful to the base commander when she stopped him from making a purchase in an unauthorized uniform (i.e., boots and utilities). The colonel approximates 30 Marines were in the store with the lance corporal and not one corrected the Marine. More recently the Commanding General, Marine Special Operations Command, was shown a lack of respect by a group of young Marines, to include noncommissioned officers (NCOs), when the general approached them. Upon the general’s arrival he was not shown the proper customs and courtesies (i.e., hand salute). It was only after the general told the Marines to render the proper customs and courtesies that anyone rendered the general a hand salute and valediction. When taken individually, these are microcosmic events within the Marine Corps; however, the behaviors are not limited to Camp Lejeune alone and indicate a growing antipathy toward authority and disrespect for customs and courtesies. The Marine Corps should reexamine its roots of professionalism, good order, and discipline via professional development (e.g., unit-level development to the Staff NCO Academy (SNCOA)) and resharpen its professional saw, which after years of war has been dulled and its focus shifted from professional development in favor of combat proficiency. The assertion is that combat proficiency—a skill—can supersede professionalism—an attitude. This is a false premise. Professionalism is the catalyst to everything Marines do and how well they do it. Let’s not discount attacks on our professionalism, customs, and courtesies and use the current era of combat to justify subordinating professional development in favor of combat proficiency. A Marine who is infused with respect for our customs and

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