What Type Of Person Thrives In The Military, According To A U.S. Marine Corps Faculty
Mark, a U.S. Marine Corps Military College faculty member, identifies four key traits for success in their industry: "a focus and determination," "industriousness," "thoughtfulness"—a capacity for "deep thinking"—and a "bias for action," prioritizing timely execution over perfection. This perspective reveals a strong emphasis on proactive engagement and critical thinking, even under pressure, as essential for advancement within a demanding military environment.
Determination, Industriousness, Thoughtfulness, Bias for Action, Focus
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mark J. Desens
Military College Faculty
U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Naval Academy
National Defense University
General Studies / Not Applicable
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense
Education
Honors Student, Veteran, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Focus and determination are key to success in this field. A "never quit" attitude is essential due to constant competition.
2. Being industrious and productive makes you a valuable asset. It's about doing the work, not just appearing busy.
3. Thoughtfulness, involving deep consideration and critical thinking, is highly valued, even more so than a bias for action, although that is also important.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
I would say there are probably four keys to success that I can think of. The first and foremost is a focus and determination. You've got to have a "never quit, never give up" kind of attitude.
Things will always be challenging. You're always going to be competing against someone else for jobs and promotions. If you want to move up or stay in the game, you've got to be focused and dedicated to the mission.
I would add being industrious – not just looking busy, but actually doing things and being productive. That makes you valuable to the company or the military.
The third is being thoughtful. This was a term I was called many years ago; the first time another Marine called me thoughtful, I almost thought it was an insult. But thoughtful in this case isn't just being considerate; it's someone who actually thinks deeply about things.
There are many adages about how the world's problems could be solved if people would just think. People don't like to think because it's hard work. So, being thoughtful is high praise and an unusual quality, particularly in the Marine Corps.
Finally, there's what we call a bias for action. There's an old adage that an 80% plan delivered today is better than the perfect plan delivered two weeks from now. This applies in many professions. You shouldn't stop striving for perfection, but sometimes just getting after something and getting it done is crucial. Moving the ball down the field is a quality that's hard to find, particularly when things get tough. You've got to have that determination and that bias for action. We look for those things in the military.