MARINES: A Message from the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

Marines, Sergeant Major Ruiz here. Recently, the latest promotion board results for the grades of E8 and E9 were released. And I wanted to quickly say congratulations to all Marines who were selected. Really, this year, to Staff and CO and now Senior Staff and CO. You've come so far from those yellow footprints. So with that in mind, I need you to look ahead. Understand your role in your formation. There are young Marines looking to you every day. Marines wanting to train, to have purpose and motivation, and the chance to do what it is that they came to do. Give that to them. Give your Marines what they need before they know they need it. Send them to their PME. Hold them accountable when they miss the mark. And write that award when they excel. Set the example that gives them something to emulate in and out of uniform. You must push the institution forward while still internalizing the standards and expectations of our Corps. I need you to lead from a place of strength. If we are not who we say we are, we lose the trust of our Marines, both present and the past. You have more influence over the culture and effectiveness of your unit than perhaps any other person or event. Your Marines see you day in and day out. They see your fitness, they see your work ethic, and where you devote your time. They hear the comments that you make and the tone of your voice and how much you know or you don't know. You're my Marines and I have obligations to you in the way that you have obligations to your Marines. Lead well. Lead with courage. Lead with firmness and fairness. Lead intelligently. The future of our Corps will be well within your hands. Lastly, if you can take advantage of a 96-day holiday period, please enjoy it and come back to us safely. If you find yourself engaged, on duty, forward deployed, or just volunteering your time in the community, Marines and families, thank you for choosing us. Stay sharp, stay focused, and remember, everyone pulls their weight and everyone fights.