by Daniel G. O'Leary

Created on: December 18, 2008   Last Updated: April 26, 2010

If you want to get promoted in the United States Marine Corps, you look at yourself in your mirror right now! Take a good look; Are you lean, green, hard-charging, solid, fit, and "know your knowledge"? If you hesitated, forget it, move away from the mirror before you make yourself ill.

Now, if your serious about "wanting to get promoted", and "you didn't hesitate", let's get busy! "Leaders" lead from where? You're right, "the front". How do they lead? Right again, "by example"!

You look in that mirror again, right now, and decide "lead" or "follow". If you want to get promoted in "The Corps", you better have chosen "to lead". If you chose "to follow", stand aside, obey your orders, do the best you can do "always", and before you know it, your time will be done.

For those who have "chosen" to lead, to seek promotion within "The Corps", your journey will be grueling, fast, furious, eventful, with risk, and "yes" with reward (your promotion, the first of many).

From day one, even in Boot Camp, you set an example. In everything you do, you do it completely and with the right attitude. You do your best "every time". Your goal is to finish "first", to shine like the Sun, and to inspire all those around you. You learn your lessons well, perfect your skills, and "accomplish your mission". You do it right, the first time (there's no second chances on the battlefield, no do-overs). In Boot Camp, often those who finish first in each platoon are "meritoriously promoted" to the next rank.

Once you graduate Boot Camp, you are sent to "your school" to learn "your job". Learn it "to the best of your ability" (absorb it like a sponge). Your on your own more frequently in the school environment, a great opportunity to shine even brighter. Discipline is the key now! Wear your uniforms perfectly. Study your lessons, ask questions, get answers, help your classmates, exercise like you're going to the Olympics, wear your uniforms "perfectly". Your goal; "finish first", inspire those around you, show initiative, learn your lessons, perfect your skills, score as high as you can on the Physical Fitness Test (PFT). Often, those who finish first are "meritoriously promoted" to the next rank, and "sometimes", they are given "their choice" of duty stations as well.

From the very first day you report into your unit after graduating from your school; be lean, green, hard charging, solid, fit, and "know your knowledge". Set the example, obey your orders and seek "additional responsibility" as often

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