Cpl John Schmuckatelle Corporals Course 10-1 4th Squad “Embodiment of Marine Corps History and Traditions: The modern NCO” The modern Marine NCO is the embodiment of the Corps’ history and traditions for more reasons that can be mentioned in this essay. Before we dive into the reasons, we must understand what does that statement really means. It means to that the current generation NCOs represent as a whole, or rather becomes, the Corps’ history and traditions.

NCOs are the ones who make decisions that become yesterday’s history, are constant reminders in flesh of the history and traditions, and are the ones who passes on the history and traditions to our junior marines. First we have the simple concept that NCOs are the ones who make decisions that become yesterday’s history. Every battle that we win, every mission we complete (like the closing the chapter in Iraq), and every life that we touch in and out of uniform become tomorrow’s history.

This is simple, but huge, for the modern NCO because in order to be part of history and traditions, the NCO must contribute today. The NCO must uphold the NCO creed and basic Marine values and leadership traits in everyday life, and history will be made with every professional decision the NCO makes. The walk and talk of the modern day Marine NCO serve as constant reminders in flesh of the history and traditions of the Corps. When an NCO reemphasizes common courtesy to other marines, some of those courtesies remain engrained and carries on to the civilian side.

It is this civilian side where the Marine has high exposure. Sure, the news could show some feats that Cpl Schmuckatele accomplished, but the everyday interaction is what reminds the general population of what it means to be a Marine. It reminds them of the history, the pride in the Marine gets when he knows his history, and the proud look in each walk that he gets from knowing that he comes a long line of heroes. This is especially true of reservist NCOs. We are in charge of the Marines under us. There are way more junior Marines and NCOs than there are SNCOs and officers.

With that said, NCOs have the biggest burden in instilling in each other and to our juniors the values and leadership traits of a Marine. It’s because of this that the modern Marine NCO has the most important job in creating in the public eye the reminder of what it means to be a Marine, of what our forefathers have done, and of our traditions. Tying in to the previous topic, the modern NCO is the embodiment of the Corps’ history and traditions because they are the ones who are responsible for passing along and teaching our junior Marines our history and traditions.

We cannot expect our junior marines learn on their own, or even to understand its importance. When the modern NCO shares his expertise, knowledge, and experience of the history and traditions, and not only expects, but inspect our Marines. If we are successful, then we become an integral part of history because history repeats itself. In addition, the traditions won’t be traditions if nobody remembers them. As we can see, the modern Marine NCO has a huge but worthwhile responsibility of becoming the Corps’ history and traditions.

NCOs are the ones who make decisions that become yesterday’s history because the professional decisions they make are guided by honor, courage, and commitment. The modern NCO is a constant reminder in flesh of the history and traditions because we are the ones that all the veterans and civilians see setting the example and teaching the example. Last of all, because the modern NCO passes on the history and traditions to our junior marines, we can continue the history and tradition of the Marine Corps, and thus embodying what it stands for.