Endurance:

     Endurance, like courage, has two distinct parts.  Physical endurance means not giving in to pain and being able to function even when tired or in pain.  Mental endurance is the ability to think straight when fatigued, distressed, or in pain.  Demonstrated endurance brings respect from subordinates.  Lack of endurance fails not only to set a proper example for subordinates to follow, but it can be mistaken as lack of courage.  You increase both mental and physical endurance by:

• Avoiding excesses that lower both physical and mental stamina.

• Keeping physically fit by exercise and proper diet.

• Learning to stand discomfort by undertaking hard physical tasks.

• Forcing yourself to study on occasions when you are tired and your mind is sluggish.

• Finishing every job regardless of the obstacles.

EXAMPLES:

1. A Marine keeps up on a 10-mile forced march even though he has blisters on both feet and had only an hour of sleep the previous night.

2. An XO works all night to ensure that promotion/pay problems are corrected as quickly as humanly possible because he realizes that only through this effort can one of his Marines receive badly needed back pay the following morning.

REFERENCE:  Marine Corps Values and Leadership User's Guide for Discussion Leader