I was once asked, “How does the USMC teach Marines to go from a seated position to standing in that ‘Marine posture’ with hand outstretched in less than the time it takes me to blink?
It’s discipline and standards. I’ve never met a good NCO that will let an infraction slide. If they do, Joe has a new standard.
Situational awareness is a perishable skill. Just walk down a street and see how many put their face into their phone screen? Most today are permanently distracted from reality and don’t care. Disciplined men know when to switch on and to switch off.
Back in the 80s I was DIVO for the Navy's EW"A" School and a few other Electronic Warfare related courses in Pensacola. ~ 300+ staff & students. The leading Chief, an E-8 EW Technician, was transferred with a gapped relief. I checked to see who was the most senior E-7 to be put in charge. It was GySgt Davis who was the lead man in the CTT ELINT course. Immediately after putting him in charge there was a rumble among the staff..."But LT, he's a Marine. What does he know about the Electronics Warfare Technician rating. How's he gonna run this school?" "Just you watch", I said, cutting that talk short. Military bearing, comportment, leopard-like. It was a learning experience for all of us.
Perhaps it is related to the boot camp experience? But I agree and it has stood me in good stead. If you look squared away, people will assume you are.
"Military bearing" comes up in conversations every once in awhile when talking to my spouse, because he gets occasional salutes or "what branch were you in?" from random people, even though he never served (movie work doesn't count). He had been headed for the Marines, but his knees betrayed him, even though he probably would have been fine. Anyway, that's his story to tell. Marines have a special physicality. "Bearing" and "comportment" definitely define it. My friend Jonathan (a.k.a. Sgt Maj Eby) has it in spades. This essay got me thinking about how I would define his bearing, and I guess it would be "leopard-like". He moves with a smooth, precise efficiency that says, "I can move through this room without needlessly stirring the air, but I will strike like a cobra if I need to."
It’s discipline and standards. I’ve never met a good NCO that will let an infraction slide. If they do, Joe has a new standard.
Situational awareness is a perishable skill. Just walk down a street and see how many put their face into their phone screen? Most today are permanently distracted from reality and don’t care. Disciplined men know when to switch on and to switch off.
Back in the 80s I was DIVO for the Navy's EW"A" School and a few other Electronic Warfare related courses in Pensacola. ~ 300+ staff & students. The leading Chief, an E-8 EW Technician, was transferred with a gapped relief. I checked to see who was the most senior E-7 to be put in charge. It was GySgt Davis who was the lead man in the CTT ELINT course. Immediately after putting him in charge there was a rumble among the staff..."But LT, he's a Marine. What does he know about the Electronics Warfare Technician rating. How's he gonna run this school?" "Just you watch", I said, cutting that talk short. Military bearing, comportment, leopard-like. It was a learning experience for all of us.
Perhaps it is related to the boot camp experience? But I agree and it has stood me in good stead. If you look squared away, people will assume you are.
"Military bearing" comes up in conversations every once in awhile when talking to my spouse, because he gets occasional salutes or "what branch were you in?" from random people, even though he never served (movie work doesn't count). He had been headed for the Marines, but his knees betrayed him, even though he probably would have been fine. Anyway, that's his story to tell. Marines have a special physicality. "Bearing" and "comportment" definitely define it. My friend Jonathan (a.k.a. Sgt Maj Eby) has it in spades. This essay got me thinking about how I would define his bearing, and I guess it would be "leopard-like". He moves with a smooth, precise efficiency that says, "I can move through this room without needlessly stirring the air, but I will strike like a cobra if I need to."
I was raised by a Marine officer. To this day, I can usually spot a Marine from a distance, just from the way they carry themselves.