The Marine Standard Never Retires

I left the Corps in 1985, but the habits never left me. Discipline, follow through, and trust were not slogans, they were survival. We did not circle back; we closed the loop. Every task had an owner; every mission had a finish. That mindset built reliability like armor.

Civilian life is a strange battlefield. Deadlines slide, meetings multiply, and “good enough” gets applause. I watch leaders dodge accountability and call it collaboration. The Corps forged precision under pressure. The office celebrates drift. It grinds at me every day.

I came up in the Air Wing, where seconds mattered and systems failure meant grounded birds. You learned to double check your buddy’s work because lives and missions rode on it. That trust, earned in sweat and repetition, made us unbreakable. Try finding that in a conference room full of status updates.

What civilians call teamwork, Marines called duty. We did not need trust falls or icebreakers. We had each other’s six. We hit deadlines because failure was not an option. You cannot fake that intensity. You either live it, or you do not.

Many of the lessons I carry come from Vietnam veterans I served with in the early 80’s (including my drill instructors) and later worked alongside as webmaster for the USMC/Combat Helicopter Association from 1997 to 2022. Their leadership, mentorship, and courage are stitched into everything I do; thank you for holding the line and showing me how to lead.

So yes, I still measure everything against Marine standards. Not out of nostalgia, but necessity. Because when mediocrity becomes the norm, excellence has to push back. I have always led by example, carrying those lessons forward and setting the bar high, hoping to prove that Marines make strong leaders in any uniform. The title never fades; it just finds new ground to serve.

Semper Fi.