Photo By Lance Cpl. Anastasia Dausilio | U.S. Marine Corps noncommissioned officers and instructors with the Lance Corporal...... read more read more
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CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa, Japan — At some point in your career, you will find yourself in a moment where someone looks to you for an answer.
For 54 Marines from commands across Okinawa, the Lance Corporal Leadership and Ethics Seminar 5-26 was designed to prepare them for that moment.
Over four training days, the Marines completed 40 hours of professional military education focused on leadership traits, ethical decision-making, mentoring, core values and more. The seminar did not just give Marines a list of leadership principles to memorize. Through guided discussion and peer-to-peer debates, they were challenged to think about how their decisions affect their fellow Marines, their units and themselves.
These decisions become increasingly important as Marines take on greater responsibility. A lance corporal may find themselves the senior Marine in a shop, vehicle or fire team, with junior Marines looking to them for direction.
“Up until this time, you’ve been asked to be a master of your MOS, to learn your craft and to be a basically trained Marine,” said Maj. David A. Morris, III Marine Expeditionary Force Communication Strategy and Operations future operations officer and guest of honor. “But now we need you to start thinking about transitioning to leadership and what it means to be a noncommissioned officer.”
That transition requires more than knowing how to do a job. It requires Marines to be prepared to think critically, make sound decisions and lead when the situation does not come with a simple answer. Throughout the four-day seminar, the instructors and staff — 1st Sgt. Jose M. Yulee, Staff Sgt. Derick S. Mojewski, Sgt. Kenneth O. Mantero, Cpl. Julio C. Letona IV, Cpl. Armghan Zuzaj and Cpl. Nicholas R. Kunkel — dedicated their time to help the newest leaders of the Corps develop those skills.
Their focus extended beyond the classroom, emphasizing the everyday choices that shape Marines as leaders and citizens. Development is especially important because leadership is not always defined by the moments that make the headlines but by the decisions Marines are expected to make every day.
“Sometimes the everyday battles are the toughest ones to win,” Morris said. “Get your Marines home on time.”
That message puts into perspective the vital responsibility that comes with leadership. Maintaining the wellness of Marines and making difficult decisions are all part of leading, even when there is no perfect solution.
As the graduates received their certificates, they marked the completion of 40 hours of training — but the real test begins when they return to their units.
“Do not go back to your unit as the same Marine that you were a week ago,” Morris challenged. “Start thinking about what type of leader that you want to be.”
For the Marines who participated, the seminar was not simply another requirement to check off their to-do list. It was an opportunity to start thinking differently about the responsibility that comes with being a Marine others will depend on.
Someone will look to you and ask, “What do we do now?”
“In the fight, there is no neat little textbook that’s going to give you the right answer.”
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2026 02:12 |
| Story ID: | 574365 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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