Coast Guardsmen make repairs to the hangar door locking mechanism on board the USCGC Kimball (WMSL-756). The Coast Guard’s motto, Semper Paratus (Always Ready), has been translated culturally into “do more with less,” which can be disheartening for members.

Redefine Semper Paratus

Our service remains haunted by the curse Admiral Loy emphasized some 24 years ago, even as it is at peak demand domestically and globally.

Lieutenant (junior grade) Marissa Skidmore, U.S. Coast Guard
January 2025
Disciplinary events are a part of Navy life for officers and enlisted members. The Navy Supply Corps School hosted a mock executive officer’s inquiry and captain’s mast to help officers feel more comfortable in these disciplinary situations should they arise.

Coping with Captain’s Mast

The distinction between individual autonomy and collective responsibility in the military environment is a fine line.

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Jacqueline Hayre-Pérez, U.S. Navy
December 2024
During February 2022 humanitarian aid/disaster relief (HA/DR) operations in Turkey, 2d MEB staff members arrived in Naples and immediately integrated into the Naval Forces Europe HA/DR battle rhythm, and some members deployed to Incirlik with the commanding general to provide additional capacity as required.

Transforming 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade

This transformation involved setting three conditions: educating the force, casting a vision, and building the organizational mechanism for achieving objectives.

Lieutenant Colonel Joel Rea, U.S. Marine Corps
November 2024
The USS California (SSN-781) returns to homeport in Groton, Connecticut, on 14 February 2024 after a deployment. Leaders in the submarine community can be drivers of retention because leadership styles affect a submariner’s quality of life.

Retention Is a Leadership Problem

Leaders are the driver when it comes to retention, and leadership styles can affect quality of life.

Lieutenant William Parker, U.S. Navy
October 2024
Captain Brett Crozier, the former commanding officer of the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), was relieved of duty in 2020 after a letter to Navy leaders asking for help as COVID-19 spread throughout his ship was leaked to the press. Although his removal was met with backlash, an investigation found Crozier had not removed infected sailors from his ship fast enough and used “questionable judgment” when releasing sailors from quarantine.

Learn from ‘Losses of Confidence’

It is time to start looking at these “loss of confidence” events more carefully and feed the lessons back into formal training programs.

September 2024
Marines attend casualty assistance calls officer training at Camp Pendleton, California. In some cases, notification of next of kin can be straightforward, but in other cases there can be complicated feelings and dynamics CACOs must help families navigate.

CACO: Learning to Lead Through Loss

CACOs must take on these duties with the same degree of professionalism with which they pursue their combat duties.

Lieutenant Colonel Brian Kerg, U.S. Marine Corps
August 2024
An ensign fist bumps a chief petty officer on the deck of the USCGC James (WMSL-754). A pump up speech doesn’t need to always come from the top, or even need to be a speech. Being a positive leader and sharing high fives and fist bumps with the crew are underrated tools in keeping a team motivated.

Empower the Midlevel Leader

A unit’s climate and effectiveness can be bolstered or hindered by the quality of leaders throughout the middle ranks.

July 2024
Coast Guard recruits going through basic training participate in an off-base run. Leaders may strive to finish first, but they must not outpace their crews.

Don’t Run Faster Than Your Crew

Leadership Essay Contest—Second Prize, Sponsored by Drs. Jack and Jennifer London Charitable Foundation. My training taught me the importance of leading from the front.

Lieutenant Nick D. Jabs, U.S. Coast Guard
June 2024
The USCGC Tern (WPB-87343), shown here patrolling in front of Alcatraz Island, is one of the Coast Guard’s 65 87-foot Marine Protector–class cutters. While in command of this ship, the author and his crew conducted a dangerous rescue mission that shook his faith in his gut instincts.

Follow Your Gut?

Leadership Essay Contest—First Prize, Sponsored by Drs. Jack and Jennifer London Charitable Foundation. Leaders are at their best when they maintain autonomy for appropriate decision-making.

Lieutenant Matthew J. Nagle, U.S. Coast Guard
May 2024