The recent news that the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) was being deployed to the Middle East brought up a flurry of emotions for me. I deployed with the 31st MEU when I served in the Marine Corps. My mind quickly went back to my experiences on the ship all those years ago. Back then, our focus was Iraq; today, it’s Iran. While the facts differ, the feelings transcend.
No one deploying knows exactly what they’ll face. And they go anyway. Deployment is voluntary in the deepest sense. It requires courage without clarity. So does everyday leadership. We all must navigate ambiguity. From the decision to take on debt to enroll in school, to the difficult conversation we should have with our boss, to the strategic pivot we need to lead our organization through to improve results, the call forward doesn’t wait for certainty.
My Marine Corps experience taught me that someone has to go first, especially when the way forward isn’t clear. Character lives in the liminal moment, the in-between space. The time when you’ve left one shore but haven’t yet reached the other. Right now, the Marines of the 31st MEU are not thinking about turning back. Their values of honor, courage, and commitment have led them to this space. They’ve prepared for years for what’s ahead, and yet there’s no certainty. There’s just their resolve and belief that they’re ready.
There’s much inspiration to take from these men and women who are moving toward their mission. It’s a reminder for each of us to ask, “What is mine to do?” and to answer that question with action. What roles do you fill where you can go first and set an example of responsibility, care, compassion, and excellence? How can you lead from the front as a partner, parent, professional, or friend?
Trust yourself. Trust the effort you’ve put into preparing. Then, make the important decision to act. Communicate the way forward and serve the teams you’re part of through all the challenges, changes, and complexity. That’s what the Marines of the 31st MEU will do. My heart stirs as I watch them carry forward a mission I once served. The legacy of the Corps reminds me that we all have an opportunity to inspire by the example we set.
Founded in 2004, Lead Star is the company behind the best-selling books SPARK, Leading from the Front, and Bet on You. Lead Star helps professionals reach new levels of success through its innovative leadership development programs.
