“The Marine Corps’ style of warfare requires intelligent leaders with a penchant for boldness and initiative down to the lowest levels. Boldness is an essential moral trait in a leader for it generates combat power beyond the physical means at hand. Initiative, the willingness to act on one’s own judgment, is a prerequisite for boldness. These traits carried to excess can lead to rashness, but we must realize that errors by junior leaders stemming from overboldness are a necessary part of learning.” WarLearningMilitaryErrorsCommandInitiativeMarine CorpsUsmc Book:Warfighting Source: Warfighting
“There are two basic military functions: waging war and preparing for war. Any military activities that do not contribute to the conduct of a present war are justifiable only if they contribute to preparedness for a possible future one. Clearly, we cannot afford to separate conduct and preparation. They must be intimately related because failure in preparation leads to disaster on the battlefield.” WarTrainingPreparationMarine CorpsUsmc Book:Warfighting Source: Warfighting
“A clear expression and understanding of intent is essential to unity of effort. The burden of understanding falls on senior and subordinate alike. The seniors must make their purposes perfectly clear but in a way that does not inhibit initiative. Subordinates must have a clear understanding of what their commander expects.” ClarityMarine CorpsUsmcChain Of CommandClear ExpectationsCommander S IntentUnity Of Effort Book:Warfighting Source: Warfighting