June 20, 1995

 

To:          All Marines and Marine Options

From:      SGT Grose

Subj:       General Krulak’s Five Pillars

 

                As all of you should know, we have a new Commandant as of June 30th, 1995. General Krulak has issued a message outlining his priorities for the next four years. Since the following items represents the General’s most strongly held beliefs in his own words, we shall read, understand, and comply with them to the letter. General Krulak will soon issue a 29-page Commandant’s Planning Guidance document that will further outline the General’s philosophy on where the Corps is headed in the next four years.

 

1. Warfighting:

                We have no more important responsibility to the American people than to win the nation’s battles. We exist today because the American people expect their Marines to provide a lean, ready, and professional fighting force. A force that guarantees success when committed. They have such a force now and are proud of it. But good as we are today, we will be better tomorrow... We must be ready. No matter what the crisis, no matter what the threat. The nation must have one thought: “Send in the Marines!”

 

2. People

                “Another of our most important responsibilities to the American people is to make Marines. Our ability to win battles boils down today, as it always has, to the Marine. This will not change. People are our most precious asset and we protect them by the fair, scrupulous, and unbiased treatment of all Marines as individuals - caring for them, teaching them, and leading them. I see this as my obligation. It is also the obligation of each member of the chain of command from top to bottom.”

 

3. Core Values

                “I do not intend these to be just words. I expect for them to frame the way we live and act as Marines. Our core values of honor, courage and commitment are at the very soul of our institution. There is no room in our Marine Corps for either situational ethics or situational morality.”

 

4. Education and Training

                “During times of fiscal constraint the Marine Corps has always turned to its education and training systems to keep its warfighting edge. We will do that today. Each dollar spent in training will bring a solid return. The use of simulation, virtual reality, models, and various warfighting games can make subsequent field training more effective and, ultimately, less expensive. Therefore, we will pursue this type of technology. In the same vein, education will become central to all Marines - not just a select few. Education and training provides a foundation for a Marine Corps that can adapt to a changing world.”

 

5. Naval character

                The Navy and Marine Corps are inextricably linked. Together, the sea services provide a tremendously versatile and unique warfighting capability to the nation. It is important that the doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures that have been developed over the years continue to be updated and refined to meet the challenges of tomorrow. I intend to work closely with the chief of naval operations to strengthen the bond between the Navy and Marine Corps and to seek innovative ways to increase the value of naval expeditionary forces to the national military strategy.”

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                Jason D. Grose

                                                                                                                                SGT/USMC