My sister Jen came across Leatherneck.com, a site for Marine Corp veterans while moseying around Google.
On the site, she found this story written by a Stewart Nusbaumer, a reporter who was embedded with the Marines Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in Afghanistan.
Steve is part of MARSOC and serving in the same region of Afghanistan that Nusbaumer writes about, so I really felt like I got a peek into what he's doing (or at least what Marines like him have done in the past).
According the the article, MARSOC Marines are not only training Afghan soldiers basic infantry skills, but also working to gain their trust and allegiance by getting to know them on a more personal level.
Here's an excerpt from the article:
Riding back to base with the leathernecks, I asked them what personal qualities make for a good Special Operations Marine. "Physical and mental toughness," said the team chief, a gunnery sergeant. "No selfishness," said a staff sergeant, the team's communications chief, adding, "... take extreme pride in what you do." Another Marine said, "The ability to mesh with a changing environment." The one attribute every team member mentioned was "maturity."
The staff sergeant explained: "Operating at this level requires a Marine to have a certain level of life experiences and Marine Corps experiences. We need guys who can make quick life or death decisions without any hesitations. The more mature you are, the less your senses get overloaded during a crisis, and you can make sound decisions. If you have a young guy out of boot camp, you are going to have to supervise him, and that can't always happen [on a team]. I would say the a lot of experiences, and we work together and can get through any situation."
With classified information and clandestine missions and sensitive information, loose talk and immature boasting is dangerous. The staff sergeant added, "That's something that cannot be tolerated. Operators live by the motto, 'Silent Professionals.' " Operators also spoke a great deal about being "adaptive." Being a small unit operating far from "Big Marine Corps" support and working closely with locals--troops, leaders and civilians in their local culture--flexibility and adaptability are crucial. There is not one way to do things here. Nor, is there one job for every Marine.
"Everyone has several duties," the team leader, a captain, said. "All of us have many skill sets to learn," the team chief added.
It's interesting to read in print all these qualities that someone like Steve should possess.
While Steve can be incredibly obnoxious (When dressing as a civilian, he loves pairing brightly colored shirts with patchwork plaid shorts and the like) and a huge joker (I wonder if he ever found that Darth Vader mask he wanted to bring with him to Afghanistan), he is also someone you can count on in a pinch and who cuts through the B.S.
I think exactly the type of person MARSOC looks for.
Realizing it is my choice and my choice alone
to be a Reconnaissance Marine,
I accept all challenges involved with this profession.
Forever shall I strive to maintain the tremendous reputation
of those who went before me.
Exceeding beyond the limitations
set down by others shall be my goal.
Sacrificing personal comforts and dedicating myself
to the completion of the reconnaissance mission shall be my life.
Physical fitness, mental attitude, and high ethics --
The title of Recon Marine is my honor.
Conquering all obstacles, both large and small,
I shall never quit.
To quit, to surrender, to give up is to fail.
To be a Recon Marine is to surpass failure;
To overcome, to adapt and to do whatever it takes
to complete the mission.
On the battlefield, as in all areas of life,
I shall stand tall above the competition.
Through professional pride, integrity, and teamwork,
I shall be the example
for all Marines to emulate.
Never shall I forget the principles
I accepted to become a Recon Marine.
Honor, Perseverance, Spirit and Heart.
A Recon Marine can speak without saying a word
and achieve what others can only imagine.
that is the Marine Recon creed...ive memorized it and put it to heart....enough said