All I Really Need to Know, I Learned In Boot Camp

In 1989 Robert Fulghum wrote the runaway best seller, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. This anecdotal book offers wonderful advice about interacting with each other and is a great reminder of those timeless lessons we learned in our early development. Fulghum was right, some of the best instructio
I have ever received was in the most basic learning environments because ‘All I Really Need to Know about Leadership, I Learned in Boot Camp.
Summertime at Parris Island, South Carolina is a sweltering mix of heat, humidity, sand fleas and continuous chaos. In June of 1982 I found myself among hundreds of other recruits striving to earn the title of United States Marine.
I became fascinated with the Marines in the 5th grade after reading about the exploits of the Corps. So, 10 short days following high school graduation, I landed on the yellow footprints of Parris Island, where I found myself under the expert tutelage of a team of Marine Corps Drill Instructors (DIs) and initiated my leadership education.
I experienced a chronic case of home sickness about 10 seconds after I got off the bus at recruit training. My first lesson sank in immediately. Choosing to be a leader will require you to step outside of your comfort zone. In high school I enjoyed success and popularity as an athlete and student. I found out quickly that the Marines did not care what I had accomplished up to this point in my life. I had to demonstrate abilities and earn respect in my new role. Leaders need to understand this lesson and put aside the victories and laurels of the past and work more effectively each time they are given additional responsibility. Leadership and authority is not a prize to be admired- it is an obligation to use your skills and ability to improve the people and the environment around you.
Following three days of acclimatization and administrative processing my platoon was introduced to the team most responsible for our transformation from civilian to elite military professional. There is a ritual each recruit participates in called the pickup. The DI team is introduced by the Officer-in-Charge and the Drill Instructor Oath is administered. n nnnn“These recruits are entrusted to my care. I will train them to the best of my ability. I will develop them into smartly disciplined, physically fit, basically trained Marines, thoroughly indoctrinated in love of Corps and Country. I will demand of them and demonstrate by my own example the highest standards of personal conduct, morality, and professional skills.
I was impressed with the ramrod posture, command presence and total commitment displayed by this team of professional trainers. The powerful words taught me that leaders must project confidence to inspire the results they want from their team. Leaders also make commitments and establish expectations very early in a new project.
When you bring together 72 young men from all over the U.S. and form them into a team you truly have a cross section of society. There is a mixture of race, religion, knowledge, skills and abilities. None of those individual traits matter so much as the sum of the whole together. High Performance teams recognize strengths and maximize them for advantage. They also recognize weaknesses and develop a strategy to improve them.
Close Order Drill is a staple of Boot Camp. In the early stages I was horrendous at Close Order Drill. I just could not get it. I had been executing the mechanics of walking sub-consciously for eighteen years, but when I had to think about the mechanics and call it marching I was lost. My strength was in physical activities. I could run- and the longer the distance- the better I could run. The Drill Instructor put me in situations to exploit my strength and help the team, all the while repeating the instructio
I needed to master for the subject I struggled in. Leaders put people in places where they can contribute the most and never lower organizational standards just because someone struggles. Leaders train people to overcome weaknesses.
The Marine Corps prides itself on discipline. I remember a chant we would repeat in unison when prompted by the DI.
Discipline is instant willing obedience to order, respect for authority, self-reliance and teamwork.”
The self-reliance phrase has dominated my thought for years. Leaders must be self-reliant. They have to be practitioners of initiative and proactively set the example in all elements of their profession.
Boot Camp is purely designed to teach the basics and being brilliant in the basics will take you far in any line of work. The most basic instruction a recruit receives is related to guarding military equipment. The recruit is taught eleven general orders and is expected to memorize them and execute responsibilities associated with them immediately. The foundation built by this process serves a Marine throughout an entire career. Leaders must understand the basics of their profession and industry, train their teams to execute the basics brilliantly and they will get brilliant results.
The defining moment of Boot Camp for me came when I recognized the transformation of a group of self-minded individuals into a selfless team. It happened on the infiltration course. A very challenging set of obstacles that demanded individual effort and teamwork. We were tasked to work in teams of four and our mission was to maneuver the entire length of 300 yard course in separate lanes arriving at the objective together. We started crawling through mud, under barbed wire, we climbed walls and we coordinated a team response to simulated enemy attacks. There was thunderous noise all around- simulated machine guns, grenades, and artillery, people were screaming, chaos was the norm. Despite the uncommon environment, and fear, our teams worked together. No one panicked; we strengthened one another and achieved our objective. I gained a valuable lesson in spite of the extreme hardship. Leaders are defined by how well their teams respond to adversity. Our team of four and our larger team of over 70 responded magnificently because we were trained and conditioned by exceptional leaders.
There are many other leadership lessons I learned in boot camp. I can confidently say that rarely a day passes when I do not apply those lessons from long ago. Every leader experiences a basic development phase in their professional progression and I believe the lessons we learn in these crucibles of character serve as a benchmark for the rest of our lives. What experience prominently shaped you and what are the most valuable lessons you gained? Deliberately capture the event and apply those lessons to enhance your leadership style.
Leadership is a fascinating subject and you can find tons of information on how to improve leadership skills. For me the study and practice of leadership has been a life-long pursuit. I have read many books and have participated in and conducted tons of training on the subject. It is humbling to consider the fact- ALL I REALLY NEEDED TO KNOW, I LEARNED IN BOOT CAMP! n