fit to ensure they are ready to fight at all times. Going to the gym lets the marines focus on areas of their bodies that need improvement. During normal monthly counseling’s marines have to set personal goals and the majority chose physical fitness. Motivation can push the marines to their limits to help them reach their goals. A tremendous amount of marines use motivational quotes to use as a visual aid and mental override to push through the pain associated with physical fitness. A great example of a motivational quote that can motivate people to get in shape and focus on individual goals is “The worst thing I can be is the same as everybody else. I hate that.” (Schwarzenegger) Another way motivation helps marines is during combat training. During the training phase, prior to combat, marines need to motivate themselves to train as they fight. The training can be rigorous at times and marines need to reach down deep to complete the mission. Although marines train for combat in various locations around the world, most of the areas are places that a multitude of people would stay away from; they seem to push towards these areas. Motivation has to be present for the marines to endure all the craziness thrown at them during training. According to Hewson America is moving into the next millennium and the Marine Corps must move with it (Hewson 39-40).
Marine Corps training can be intense at times and keeping the marines focused and motivated is a leadership responsibility.
Marines are expected to receive an order and then execute without question. The book “A Message to Garcia” is a required read for all young marines. In this book, a young soldier named Rowan, during the Spanish and American war, was given a task to deliver a letter to another solider Garcia. To quote the book “Rowan took the letter and he did not ask where is he at?” the young solider just executed the mission. This type of motivation can be found in all marines and that is what is expected of them when given an order or a task. Leaders have to find ways to induce methods to ensure moral stays at a high level and that the training meets the needs for the combat situation the marines are preparing for. A motivated marine is an ecstatic marine when it comes to training. Marines are expected to push through almost any situation thrown at them, but if they are not properly motivated they could fall short. An immense leader can sense out problems within the unit and can focus on those areas. Pure motivation at its highest level can be found when marines are shooting their rifles and moral is high. Great leaders implement exceptional motivation in all aspects of Marine Corps life. In conclusion, motivation in physical fitness, leadership and training is a good tool for marines to use for mission success. Semper
Fidelis!