lessonslearned Holding Firm I


Despite having reservations, a new fi rst lieutenant follows through with his base commander’s orders even when faced with intense questioning and serious accusations.


Issuing a superior’s order as your own is a good test of leadership — particularly so when it is an order with which you dis- agree. As a newly promoted fi rst lieuten- ant, I received such an order from the base commander, a colonel, at Marine Corps Air Facility, Santa Ana, Calif., directing me to ban two Marines from using the automo- tive hobby shop.


The shop had been burglarized, and the


two Marines were both suspects, though there was no evidence. My interest in due process for the two Marines quickly was dismissed by the base commander, who directed me to use his name if I was not comfortable banning them. I assured him I was quite capable of issuing the order, and I then personally banned the two Marines. A couple of days passed, and I received a phone call from one Marine’s supervi- sor. He told me my actions were unwarranted, and he demanded I remove the ban. I suggested we get together to talk about the situation. A few more days passed, and I received a call from the base adjutant. He informed me some serious charges had been levied against me, and I was to appear at the base commander’s offi ce at 1300 hours. When I arrived, I was surprised to see


both Marines who had been banned as well as the one Marine’s supervisor. We reported to the base commander. Essen- tially a miniature trial took place, in which


68 MILITARY OFFICER JULY 2012


I was the accused being directed to answer a series of questions levied by the one Ma- rine’s supervisor. The base commander told me he regarded the charges as serious and asked me whether they were true. I was beginning to wonder what was in the wind as I admitted all the charges were correct. The base commander gazed around his offi ce before asking everyone present to make any fi nal statements. Com- plete silence and a long pause followed. Then the base commander slowly stood up from behind his desk and made it perfectly clear, in no uncertain terms, it was he who had banned the two Marines. I was relieved to be dismissed as we were told to get out of his offi ce and see the base adjutant. The two Marines subsequently received bad conduct discharges for other unrelated, more serious charges. Later, I learned the


steadfastness


base commander had been briefed on the progress of this investigation, which was the basis for issuing the order. I found this was a terrifi c lesson in lead- ership at an early stage in my career. MO


— John Currell is a retired Marine Corps major. He lives in Henderson, Nev. For submission infor- mation, see page 6.


Tell Your Story Submit your lessons learned by email to profseries@moaa.org or by mail to MOAA Professional Series, 201 N. Washington St., Al- exandria, VA 22314. All submissions will be con- sidered for publication. Comment on the latest lesson or share your own at www.moaa.org/ lessonslearned.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84