MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- With the nation facing some of its most difficult challenges with terrorism, unrest in the Middle East and growing tensions with Russia, Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, changed the course of his speech Friday during the Marine Corps University Convocation at Little Hall theatre, to posture students for what lies ahead.
Hundreds of Marines and military members from other U.S. and allied services who recently arrived at Quantico to attend one of the University’s schools, gathered in the theater to celebrate the start of academic year 2014 -2015 and 25th anniversary of the founding of MCU. Amos began his remarks paying homage to Gen. Alfred Gray, the 29th commandant of the Marine Corps, who is affectionately regarded as the father of professional military education and other visionary leaders who paved the way.
He reflected on the when the school began in 1989, its academic strides over the years and the new construction that will soon be a state-of-the-art university. But shortly into the speech, Amos didn’t mince words on why he came.
“We need thinking Marines; we need thinking soldiers, sailors, airmen and allies that are spending time thinking,” Amos said. This is not the time to fall asleep. Our nation and leaders need help and that’s why I’m here. I changed my whole thought on this convocation and [decided} to talk to you about you about what I expect.”
In a pensive tone Amos delivered “marching orders” to the Corps’ future leaders,
“I want to talk to you about what I expect of you this year but not because I’m a four-star general, commandant of the Marine Corps and this is a direct order — [rather as a] veteran of over four decades of serving our nation as a Marine. That’s where I’m coming from, from the dad of the Marine Corps.”
As Gen. Joseph Dunford, who currently commands a coalition of troops in Afghanistan as head of the International Security Assistance Force, prepares to become the 36th commandant, Amos said it’s paramount to have critical thinkers who can help him take on complex problems. As students spend the next nine to 10 months in an academic atmosphere, Amos charged them with the following “marching orders.”
The first order is to think critically.
“This is a rare opportunity to deliberately think about solutions to our thorniest problems,” Amos said. “Take time to look at and think about the thorny things happening around the world and how you would advise the commandant of the Marine Corps or Chief of the Army.”
After 14 years of focusing on tactics, Amos challenged students, many combat veterans, to switch gears and look at issues through different strategic lenses.
“It’s easy to be critical of various administrations of our government ” Amos said. “[However,] you need to ask yourself ‘strategically what would I do. Put yourself in the positions of the master command authority, the president of the United States, the chairman of the joint of chief or the joint chiefs and ask yourself how would you go about it.”
Students were asked to challenge their most strongly held beliefs.
“I ask that you step back, listen to your classmates, have a discussion and get input from everybody and challenge the beliefs that you hold so [close],” Amos said. “I’m not asking you to compromise your standards, I’m just asking you to understand that the next 10 months this is your opportunity. You have a license to question just about everything.”
Amos also stressed the importance of networking and building relationships.
“You’re here with your allies from countries all around the world and this is your opportunity to develop relationships with them because, somewhere down the line in the world that we live in, you’re going to find yourself on the battlefield. You’re going to find yourself at the combat operation center, being the advanced liaison for some piece of the operation,” he said.
Lastly, he encouraged military members to make time for their families, catch their breath and have fun.
“There’s going to be times where you’re up late studying, but the fact of the matter is, if you’re here with your family, there’s no excuse not to enjoy family time, Amos said.
In the same vein, Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidley, commanding general and president of Education Command at MCU, urged students to use their time in school wisely.
“Commit yourself to learning as much as you can,” Weidley said. “Take advantage of every opportunity, especially the ones that aren’t on your daily class schedule. Leave here recognizing that you are today’s and tomorrow's [leaders].You owe it to your Marines [and other service members] that you will lead in the future to be as intellectually fit as you are physically fit and technically proficient.”