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The two most important things the Marine Corps does for America is make Marines and win battles. "Winning battles" is about warfighting, and warfighting is in a state of change. "Making Marines" is about people-and the battles we will face in the future will place increasing demands on the character and courage of those who become U.S. Marines.
Preparing for the Future
The fall of the Soviet Union and breakup of Yugoslavia, the tragedies in Somalia and Rwanda, the conflict in Liberia, all signal a trend of nations dividing along ethnic, religious or tribal lines. This trend not only warns of crises between nations and within nations, but also greater international instability-something we call "chaos"-which will make the strongest demands for values-based character in our Marine warriors.
We've seen it before in places like Somalia, Bosnia and Liberia, and we'll see it again-Marines patrolling embattled cities and towns, experiencing the spectrum of conflict in just three blocks. The Marine who operates in this unpredictable environment must be equipped with the finest weapons America can provide. That's a given. But, to be successful, that Marine must also be equipped with an agile mind and unwavering character.
The Marines who will serve in this uncertain future will come from a society where fathers, mothers, families, schools and churches are working day and night to instill in their children character and values-those ideals that are, and have been, the bedrock of our nation. They have been doing a great job, but it is a struggle-a struggle the Marine Corps will join, just as we have joined other battles when America has called. We want to take the values that these young men and women have been given by their families and build upon them. Our success in this will determine, in part, the success of our Corps.
The Transformation Process
With this kind of future ahead of us, the Commandant's planning guidance emphasized the importance of making Marines-warfighters who represent that which is good about our nation. From this came...