The Young Marines Leadership Traits
1.BEARING
Definition: Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance, and personal conduct at all times.
Example: Wearing clean, pressed uniforms, and shining boots and brass. Avoiding swearing or bad language.
2. COURAGE
Definition: Courage is a mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism.
Example: Accepting criticism for making subordinates field day for an extra hour to get the job done correctly.
3. DECISIVENESS
Definition: Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear, forceful manner.
Example: A leader who sees a potentially dangerous situation developing, immediately takes action to prevent injury from occurring.
4. DEPENDABILITY
Definition: The certainty of proper performance of duty.
Example: The squad leader ensures that his/her squad falls out in the proper uniform without having been told to by the platoon sergeant.
5. ENDURANCE
Definition: Mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship.
Example: A Young Marine keeping up on a 2-mile march even though he/she may be tired from having only had a few hours of sleep the previous night.
6. ENTHUSIASM
Definition: The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty.
Example: A Young Marine who steps up to chant during a unit run or offers to help carry a load that is giving someone great difficulty while on a hike despite being physically tired themselves.
7. INITIATIVE
Definition: Taking action in the absence of orders.
Example: In the unexplained absence of the unit 1stSgt or Squad Leader, another Young Marine takes charge of the platoon and carries out the training schedule.
8. INTEGRITY
Definition: Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles. The quality of truthfulness and honesty.
Example: A Young Marine who uses the correct technique on the obstacle course, even when he/she cannot be seen by the evaluator. During an inspection, if something goes wrong or is not corrected as had been previously directed, he/she can be counted upon to always respond truthfully and honestly.
9. JUDGMENT
Definition: The ability to weigh facts and possible courses of action in order to make sound decisions.
Example: A Young Marine properly apportions his/her liberty time in order to relax as well as to study.
10. JUSTICE
Definition: Giving reward and punishment according to the merits of the case in question. The ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.
Example: Fair distribution of tasks by a squad leader during all field days. Does not show favoritism of one or more YM over other YMs.
11. KNOWLEDGE
Definition: The range of one's information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your Marines.
Example: The Marine who not only knows drill movements and uniform requirements, but also knows how to drill others and inspect the uniforms of other YMs.
12. LOYALTY
Definition: The quality of faithfulness to country, the unit, and to one's seniors, subordinates, and peers.
Example: A Young Marine displaying enthusiasm in carrying out an order of a senior, though he may privately disagree with it. The job has to be done, and even if the YM leader disagrees, they must impart confidence and enthusiasm for the mission to his unit.
13. TACT
Definition: The ability to deal with others without creating hostility.
Example: A Young Marine discreetly points out a mistake in drill to a NCO by waiting until after the unit has been dismissed and privately asking which of the two methods are correct. He/she anticipates that the NCO will realize the correct method when shown, and later provide correct instruction to the unit.
14. UNSELFISHNESS
Definition: Avoidance of providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.
Example: An NCO or squad leaders ensures all members of his squad have eaten before he does, or if water is scarce, he will share what he has and ensure that others do the same.
JJ DID TIE BUCKLE
J ustice
J udgment
D ependability
I ntegrity
D ecisiveness
T act
I nitiative
E ndurance
B earing
U nselfishness
C ourage
K nowledge
L oyalty
E nthusiasm