ATN International’s Post

Memorial Day is a significant occasion to express gratitude for various reasons: 1. Honoring Sacrifice: It's a day to honor and remember the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives in military service, ensuring the freedoms and security we enjoy today. 2. Reflecting on Freedom: It serves as a reminder of the high cost of freedom and the value of living in a country where liberties are protected. 3. Unity and Patriotism: Memorial Day bring communities together, fostering a sense of unity and national pride as people come together to pay their respects. 4. Family and Tradition: It's often a time for families to gather, remembering loved ones who served and passed away, and continue traditions that strengthen familial bonds. 5. Acknowledging Service Members: Beyond those who have fallen, it's also a moment to appreciate current and past service members for their dedication and sacrifices. These reasons collectively make Memorial Day a profound and heartfelt occasion for expressing gratitude.

Wokeism, including especially DEI, have collectively been harmful distractions to the mission of the US military to fight wars and defend the nation, build strong team camaraderie, and support a commonsense but demanding approach to military preparedness that makes no exceptions to professionalism and teamwork. Too many senior military leaders these days (2010 to the present; hard to overlook) seem to put wokeism and self-promotion ahead of warriorism. Not all military leaders do this, but too many are. Here are a few "everyone" points I believe are critical to basic warriorism: Everyone in the ranks are seen as "green" [everyone means male and female]; everyone does the monthly or at least quarterly garrison 20-25 mile forced march in full combat gear regardless of MOS; when deployed to combat or related zones, everyone pulls their own weight without exception; everyone looks the same in uniform and appearance; and everyone takes pride in their unit. This "everyone" list must be so if the US military is meant to fight wars and not meant be a social experiment.

While I applaud Cpl. Bradford Flores’ service to our nation I disagree wholeheartedly with the decision to allow him to wear his hair consistent with his tribal culture vice the Marine Corps’ culture. Service in the military requires sacrifice - the suborning of individual ego, beliefs, and culture for the collective standards, and core values of the group. Military organizations are teams, I’d like anyone to give me an example of a championship team that allows its players to do whatever they desire. You can’t! Nick Saban will tell you that to be elite you need to have a vision of success, a process that defines a set of standards of behavior, daily conduct and work habits that lead to predictable successful outcomes, and the individual and organizational discipline to execute these to the collective standard every moment of everyday. Failure to do so makes you average at best but not elite. When the Marine Corps used the unique language of the Navajos as an unbreakable code in WWII did they allow them to embrace their tribal culture or did they make them adhere to the Marine Corps culture? We all know the answer. Don’t let feel good policies undermine the collective strength and resilience of the group. Senior leaders do your job - EDUCATE and LEAD on this issue.

This is an important discussion, especially when shaping the perspectives of #leaders who currently serve. #Standards and their exemptions are set by the organization. Notably, standards are not a platonic #ideal, but have changed over time. For example, the 'high and tight' is a fairly young standard, when considering the age of the military services. It might be the only standard known by those in service, but it is not the only standard to have ever existed. Take a look to the past, and you quickly realize how 'unstandard' so many of our standards truly are. We could have the same discussion about #tattoos (a standard that seems to change every few years), the #PFT, the #CFT (which didn't exist when I first enlisted, but is now part of the shared memory of a generation of younger #Marines), and many other standards. As for grooming standards, it's also important to note that lawful exemptions to these standards - or checks made against them by legal challenges - are also that - lawful, something to account for when discussing good #order and #discipline. It's also worth digging into the utility of such standards. Did the British Army's allowance for its many colonial troops to groom or dress themselves in ways that respected their religious or cultural traditions degrade from their warfighting prowess? To the contrary, such formations were highly regarded for their #lethality and had sterling reputations as exceptional #warfighters. It's understandable that some want to defend the traditions they've always known, but when it comes to warfighting and the utility of standards, our approach must be sound, especially if #winning is the main effort. #ThinkFightWin

Field Manual 7-22’s language might be new, but our nation’s military chaplains have always been in the spiritual readiness business. Spiritual Readiness, which the US Army defines as “The development of the personal qualities needed to sustain a person in times of stress, hardship, and tragedy”, is one of the five pillars of the #H2F System! Read more from the Chief of Chaplains below! US Army TRADOC John Kline Michael McMurdy Jason Faulkenberry

Crucial for mission success!

I agree with the sentiments of LtGen Furness and here is why:    Uniformity is crucial in a military organization, particularly in the Marine Corps, because it fosters a sense of unity, discipline, and equality among its members. Uniformity eliminates distractions and individual differences, allowing Marines to focus on their collective mission and responsibilities. It instills a sense of pride and belonging, reinforcing the idea that every Marine, regardless of background or personal identity, is part of a cohesive team. This shared identity enhances morale and strengthens the bond between service members, which is essential for effective teamwork and operational success. Moreover, uniformity in appearance and behavior projects a professional image to the public and allied forces, reinforcing the reputation of the Marine Corps as a disciplined and elite fighting force.   Maintaining a position of uniformity over diverse cultures and traditions ensures that the Marine Corps remains a disciplined, cohesive, and effective fighting force. It allows the Corps to uphold its core values, maintain high standards of professionalism, and achieve its mission objectives consistently.     Here are the key points not all inclusive, explaining my thoughts of why the importance of uniformity with point number 8 being the most critical:     Good Order and Discipline: A uniform standard helps maintain discipline and order within the ranks. Clear, consistent expectations and regulations minimize confusion and ensure that all Marines adhere to the same code of conduct and performance standards.      Focus on Mission Accomplishment: By maintaining uniform standards, the Marine Corps ensures that personal differences and cultural variations do not interfere with the primary goal of mission accomplishment. Uniformity helps keep all Marines focused on their shared objectives.     Simplified Training and Integration: Standardized training and procedures facilitate the integration of new recruits and ensure that all Marines are prepared to perform their duties to the same high standards.      Shared Values and Identity: Uniformity reinforces the shared values and identity of the Marine Corps. It helps create a sense of belonging and pride among Marines, strengthening their commitment to the Corps and to each other.      Crisis and Combat Situations: In crisis and combat situations, uniformity in training, conduct, and procedures ensures that all Marines know what to expect from each other and how to respond. This predictability is critical for survival and success in such high-pressure environments.     Summarizing: Maintaining a position of uniformity over diverse cultures and traditions ensures that the Marine Corps remains a disciplined, cohesive, and effective fighting force. It allows the Corps to uphold its core values, maintain high standards of professionalism, and achieve its mission objectives consistently. 

Let’s remember the father of our nation, who taught us the power of truth and non-violence. Happy Gandhi Jayanti! 🇮🇳✨ #DigitalDoot #GandhiJayanti #TruthAndNonViolence #MahatmaGandhi #Freedomfighter #2ndOctober #DigitalMarketingAgency #socialmediamarketing