Seamanship and Leadership

 30 Dec 23:

When we slow down after the Holidays I start reflecting while looking forward to the New Year. One of our side projects is working on a Leadership Development program for young aviators, so we've been looking at some old and new models of leadership traits and principles. Spoiler Alert: I found that these bits of knowledge flow nicely into Seamanship and Airmanship

One model is very old, it comes from the Seven Grandparent Teachings of the Ojibwe Algonquins, centuries old. Another comes from Henri Fayol's management principles that the US Marine Corps adopted about 100 years ago. Both are still in use today. I compared and contrasted the two and then scribbled a few more notes on on how they might be applied and at what level within an organization. Here's the raw notes. 

In the Marine Corps we were taught leadership from day one, plus our 11 General Orders. Then it was quiz time from the Drill Instructors, and you better hope you knew the answers.

General Order 1: To take charge of this post and all government property in view. 

General Order 2: To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing. 

General Order 3: To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce. 

General Order4: To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own. 

General Order 5: To quit my post only when properly relieved. 

General Order 6: To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and officers and noncommissioned officers of the guard only. 

General Order 7: To talk to no one except in line of duty. 

General Order 8: To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder. 

General Order 9: To call the corporal of the guard in any case not covered by instructions. 

General Order 10: To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased. General Order 11: To be especially watchful at night, and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

Private Lewis, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Dec 1979

Armed with these General Orders and any Special Order of the Day, Marines are supposed to be able to figure out anything, with one more key learning point that was drilled into us...If we were asked a question that we didn't know the answer to, the expected response was "Gunnery Sergeant, this Marine does ot know but will find out."

More info on a good Seamanship we found coming soon.