U. S . M a r i n e C o r p s .

J R O T C
Category 1 – Leadership
Skill 1 – Objectives of Leadership

Leadership Primary and Secondary

Objectives

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 U. S . M a r i n e C o r p s . J R O T C
Category 1 – Leadership
Skill 1 – Objectives of Leadership

accomplishing skilled in to hand

any task. military combat; and
sciences and in other essentials
PURPOSE In the
the use of on how to fight,
MCJROTC
weapons. survive and
program,
This lesson will explain to you the primarythese
and
Military leaders win.
same objectives
secondary objectives of leadership as defined
must ensure
by the Marine Corps. apply. You are In
their troops
expected to
accomplish DID YOU KNOW?
assigned
Introduct missions and to President Harry S. Truman kept
ion take care of the a plaque on his desk with the
The cadets under inscription “The buck stops here.”
primary your Truman was one of America’s most
objective of leadership. honest and ethical presidents. He
leadership is Accomplishing never flinched from accepting
mission your primary responsibility for his decisions,
accomplishme and secondary however unpopular or controversial.
nt. Mission objectives
accomplish- develops
ment is leadership.
achieving your
goal. Achieving
your goal is Mission
your primary Accompli know the MCJROTC,
focus when shment basics: care mission
asked to take Mission and use of accomplishmen
on a task. The accomplishmen weapons and t is also your
secondary goal t means that equipment; primary
of leadership is you must know camouflage, objective. As a
troop welfare. your job and do fire and cadet you are
The welfare of it well. You maneuver; given many
your troops must know how cover and different tasks
should always to control and concealment; that your
be a employ your preparation of instructor
consideration unit under fighting expects you to
for you as a varied positions; use carry out
leader. Both conditions. In of supporting properly.
objectives go military arms, land Examples
hand and hand situations, navigation, include:
in leaders must be discipline, hand executing drill

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 U. S . M a r i n e C o r p s . J R O T C
Category 1 – Leadership
Skill 1 – Objectives of Leadership

movements each Marine in trust in the sergeant and

properly, or their unit: their leader. the platoon
completing background, leader just
In
your their problems, made you a
MCJROTC, the
assignments in their strong squad leader.
welfare of the
a timely and weak During your
cadets is of no
fashion. It is points, their initial
less
your military skills, encounter with
importance. In
responsibility their the members of
order to be at
to accomplish endurance, and your squad, you
their best,
these tasks. their courage. sense some
cadets must
This knowledge resentment
know that their
will help toward you as
leader is
predict and their “new”
concerned
influence their leader. The
about their
actions. It squad leader
welfare.
enables the you replaced
Leaders, at
Marine leader was popular
every level,
to make the with them, but
must make an
most of each the platoon
effort to get to
Troop Marine’s ability.
know the
leader relieved
Welfare Leaders cadets they
him for failure
The to motivate the
must put the lead. No cadet
secondary squad to
needs of their is exempt. The
objective of achieve
troops before leader must set
leadership is standards.
their own the example
troop welfare. needs. They and in doing so, Your first
Marine leaders must instill a will earn the assignment as
must know feeling of trust and squad leader is
their Marines camaraderie respect of their to fold the U.S.
and take care and team spirit cadets. flag at a
of them. They in their troops ceremony.
must learn all and a sense of While you are
they can about meeting briefly
with the
BE a leader of character.
platoon
Embrace the values and Case sergeant, your
demonstrate the leader attributes. Study squad departs
Study and practice so that you will
You are a for the football
have the skills to KNOW your job.
newly field to prepare
Then act, DO what is right to
promoted for a rehearsal.

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 U. S . M a r i n e C o r p s . J R O T C
Category 1 – Leadership
Skill 1 – Objectives of Leadership

During the and he gives to get to know informing

meeting, the you a your squad him that you
platoon challenging members and will
sergeant tells stare as if to the informal recommend
you who in your say, “I don’t norms of the him for an
squad has been want to be a squad. The instructor’s
on these details demonstrator.” way you handle reprimand
before. You ask him to this situation for his
come forward will have a insubordinat
As
and take the major impact ion. If he
you approach
flag. He says on the continues to
the field, you
something cohesion, disobey, you
see your squad
disrespectful discipline, and will
relaxing.
and still doesn’t the respect recommend
Instead of
move. these people that he be
going straight
will have for demoted.
into a This
you.
rehearsal, you action  Stand
decide to have infuriates you, Case Study directly in
a few but you control Options front of PFC
knowledgeable your emotions Hart, look
people and remain After him in the
demonstrate calm. Your identifying this eye, and
how to fold the mind swiftly challenge as order him to
flag. goes to work on one of how to stand up
the situation. take immediate and take the
You state action to gain
This flag from
to the squad control and
subordinate has you.
that you are maintain
challenged your
going to discipline while
authority and
conduct a earning the
put you in a
demonstration long-term
difficult
and for them to respect of your
position. He
move into a subordinates,
has given you a
circle. They you consider
major
don’t move. the following
disciplinary
You walk up to alternatives:
problem –
PFC Hart,
disrespect and
whom the
insubordination  Reprimand
platoon
– before you PFC Hart in
sergeant said
have even had front of the
knows how to
the opportunity squad,
fold the flag,

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 U. S . M a r i n e C o r p s . J R O T C
Category 1 – Leadership
Skill 1 – Objectives of Leadership

You If you might think still refuses,

quickly weigh take the second they could get immediately
the advantages course of away with send for the
and action, you disrespectful platoon
disadvantages would not be and sergeant or
of each course reprimanding insubordinate platoon leader
of action. PFC Hart in behavior. while you select
front of others – other squad
If you You
you could do members to do
take the first quickly think
that later in the
course of through the
private. You demonstration.
action, you actions you
would show This plan
come across as could take,
your squad that prepares you
decisive and including the
you do not back for possible
strong and you use of possible
down from a contingencies if
immediately contingencies.
challenge, and he finally obeys
assert yourself If you order
that you do not you or if he
as the PFC Hart to
resort to continues to
authority. The stand and take
threats in order disobey.
disadvantage is the flag and he
to maintain
that it is does, continue Dependin
discipline.
normally with the g on what PFC
Remember, you
unprofessional demonstration; Hart does, take
could still
to reprimand then order him action in terms
recommend
someone in and his team of your plan or
punishment
front of others. leader to meet make
that you believe
In addition, it is you appropriate
is appropriate
never wise to immediately changes. Also,
later depending
tell a after the observe the
on PFC Hart’s
subordinate rehearsal. If he effect of your
actions. The
exactly what refuses, inform actions on the
disadvantages
punishment you him: (1) that manner and
are that you
would he is being obedience of
would not be
recommend insubordinate the other squad
immediately
until you have and give him members.
asserting
had a chance to another order, Explain that
yourself as the
think the and (2) by you will not
unquestioned
situation refusing your tolerate
authority, and
through and order, he will insubordination
that some of
discuss it with have committed and
your
your seniors. two serious disobedience,
subordinates
offenses. If he and that you

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 U. S . M a r i n e C o r p s . J R O T C
Category 1 – Leadership
Skill 1 – Objectives of Leadership

will always take objectives of

suitable leadership.
disciplinary These
action against objectives are
those offenses. key to effective
leadership.
You
Remember, you
decide on the
must
second course
accomplish
of action.
your mission,
Initially, some
but in doing so,
squad members
you must also
do think that
ensure that you
PFC Hart got
are taking care
away with his
of the cadets
insubordination
whom you lead.
, but they
Understanding
discover
that good
otherwise when
judgment, and
they find out
respect for your
that you sternly
own
reprimanded
subordinates as
him in the
people, will
presence of his
make you an
team leader,
effective leader
counseled him,
in the Marine
and
Corps JROTC
recommended
program. 
him for
additional
punishment.
Conclusio
n
As
MCJROTC
cadets, it is
important that
you know and
understand the
primary and
secondary

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