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UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS1ST MAINTENANCE BATTALION

COMBAT LOGISTICS REGIMENT 15

1ST MARINE LOGISTICS GROUP, MARFORPACBOX 555647

CAMP PENDLETON, CA 92055-5647

Commanding OfficerMarines and Sailors of 1st Maintenance Battalion

IN REPLY REFER TO

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RECEIVED JUN 302009

Subj: COMMAND PHILOSOPHY

Encl: (1) Commander's Philosophy

1. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your Commanding Officer. I amlookinq forward to joining the team, getting to know everyone, and learningabout the Command. You have a stellar reputation built on a legacy ofaccomplishments, but there is more to do and there are many challenges ahead.Together, we will accomplish much, take care of each other, have fun, andsupport the MEF.

2. Enc:losure (1) is my Commander's Philosophy and it characterizes myapproach to leadership, support, and service. There is no doubt that we willaccomplish the mission; therefore, it is important to focus on theintangibles that will influence our actions, and will ultimately define us asan orga.nization. If we do these things, we will be successful. Thefollowing key points are highlighted.

a. As we step off together, we must move out with a "Commitment toExcell'l~nce" in everything we do. This type of mindset has made the Marine

Corps qreat and it must be the hallmark of who we are and what we do.

b. It is all about leadership and this applies at every level and everyrank. The Marine Corps stands tall and thrives on the shoulders of a stellar

list o~ leaders. We must act in a manner that brings honor to those who havegone before us. My leadership approach is characterized as the "Three C's ofLeader:l;hip." It is all about CHARACTER, COMPETENCE, and CARING. If weembracl:=these principles, we will flourish.

c. Enjoy being a Marine. You are serving during a challenging time inour hiBtory and you should be proud of your accomplishments. You are livingup to the legacy of the Corps and warriors from previous generationsappreciate the monumental work you are doing and have great respect for you.Continue to make them proud. Be strong and aggressive and represent theMarine Corps with honor and respect.

d. Keep things simple. Making the simple complicated is commonplace;making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. Thismust b~" our goal.

e. Be quick, but do not hurry. Act with a sense of urgency, but avoidcarelessness. We are going to make mistakes and that is okay, as long as wedo not keep making the same mistakes.

f. Our mission is to support the MEF and we must have a "SAY YES"

mentality. Saying "NO" should not be easy. This applies to everything!

Subj: COMMAND PHILOSOPHY

g. At'l;ention to detail. Little things done well are one of the greatestsecrets of success. If we do enough small things right, big things will

happen.

h. Take care of each other. Consider your fellow Marines as brothers orsisters. Their lives are in your hands and your life is in theirs.

3. We will learn from each other. You have an obligation to provide me withyour views, even if they disagree with mine. No one person is as smart asall of us, and no one is thinking, if we are all thinking alike. I do nothave all the answers. I need your thoughts and input. Be prepared toprovide it. Generate ideas and new ways to do things, so you are part of thesolution and not the problem.

4. We must respect each other. Do not discriminate. Race, gender, religion,background are not how Marines are judged. Our actions, deeds, and conductwill d,=fine us.

5. We,will be accountable for our weapons, equipment, actions, and lack ofactions. Although this is nothing new, the failure to understand this basicconcept is the root of many problems. Marines will be held accountable if

they fail to act within our Core Values. There are two kinds of people:those who have the character to do what is right and those who find reasonsnot to. Do the right thing! Be honest as it is the key to integrity andtrust.

6. We,must always consider the safety of our Marines. Every Marine is aSafety Officer and must be prepared to take action and stop unsafe acts whennecessary. Overlooking even the smallest safety concerns is comparable toreducing the value of a Marine's life. We cannot afford to compromise inareas of safety.

7. All Marine Corpsfitness is importantservice as a Marine.

standards will be adhered to. Additionally, physicaland your appearance in uniform is representative of yourEnsure you meet the standards.

8. Ma,:~inefamilies are critical to the success of the

do everything possible to support you and your family.program is important and all Marines will participate.cooperative and collaborative network that includes all

Marine Corps. We willThe Family ReadinessWe will build afamilies.

9. Thl=re are many operational challenges ahead, but the most difficult

issues will likely be far different and will distract from our ability toaccomplish the mission. Additionally, these problems are all preventable.We must create an environment that says NO to sexual harassment, NO todomestic violence, NO to driving under the influence, NO to drugs, NO tosuicid'la,NO to trouble. If you need help, we stand ready to assist, but

ultimately we need you to do the RIGHT THING. I know you can!

10. W'lamust maintain our warrior ethos and always operate with a combatmindset. There are currently 1st Maintenance Battalion Marines deployed andmany of us will be deploying soon. We need to be ready!

11. This is the beginning of our journey together and we will accomplishmany great things. We are the caretakers of the values that make our countrythe greatest in history.

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Subj:ICOMMAND PHILOSOPHY

You defend this great Nation and are serving at a difficult time. Yoursacrifice is recognized and respected.

Semper Fidelis,

J'.jK. J. STEWART

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