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Loyalty:
Loyalty is the quality of faithfulness to
your country, the Marine Corps, your seniors, and your subordinates. Demonstrated loyalty wins respect and confidence from seniors
and subordinates alike. Loyalty
means protecting your subordinates from abuse, but does not mean protecting them
when they are wrong. Loyalty means
supporting the views and methods the unit employs, but it doesn’t mean
becoming a "yes man." There is a time and a place for you to tactfully
give input to your superiors, but once they make their decision, you must
enthusiastically carry out their orders, as though the orders were your own.
Every action you take must reflect loyalty to every area where you owe
allegiance. To develop loyalty you should:
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Be
quick to defend subordinates from abuse.
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Never
give the slightest hint of disagreement with orders from seniors when giving
instructions to subordinates -- to do so will only encourage them to be
disloyal to your orders.
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Practice
doing every task to the best of your ability.
Wholeheartedly support your commander's decisions.
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Pass
down all orders from superiors as though the orders came directly from you.
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Never
discuss personal problems of subordinates with others.
Keep them confidential.
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Stand
up for your country, the Marine Corps, your unit, and your fellow Marines
when they are unjustly accused. This includes your wife and children.
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Never
criticize seniors to subordinates.
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Do
not discuss command problems outside the unit.
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Be
loyal to your seniors and subordinates.
Support the lawful policies of senior officers whether you personally
agree with them or not. Remember
loyalty is a two-way street.
EXAMPLE:
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A
squad leader gives a suggestion to his platoon commander on how to defend
the platoon's sector. The
platoon commander listens to the suggestion but decides on a different
course of action, which will take more work to carry out.
The squad leader enthusiastically sets out to obey the order.
When the squad complains, the squad leader explains the reasoning
behind the order, but does not mention his own plan to his squad.
REFERENCE: Marine Corps Values and Leadership User's Guide for Discussion
Leader
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