Building an Iraqi Marine Corps
Hello to all. My name is Capt David Ortiz (USMC). I am a military training team chief who has been tasked with training a newly formed Iraqi Marine Corps (IqM). What make this mission unique is that the Iraqi Navy has expressed a desire to create an Iraqi Marine Corps that is versatile and capable of operating in a joint battle space as a light infantry unit, not a specialized naval infantry unit. In my research, I have found that similar efforts were attempted in 2004 and 2005, however, I am still attempting to gain knowledge of the scope of the effort. From what I have learned so far, the work and training done in 04 and 05 has not endured with the Iraqis.
My team’s Mission is to assist the Iraqi’s in creating a sustainable IqM ethos and light infantry skills. A biggest step that has occurred is that the Iraqi senior leadership has expressed a keen desire for this type of force. My team must now help facilitate its execution and help to ensure the middle management in the IqM has bought into this concept.
We have been tasked to assist the IqM in the development of an ethos that will make them different than the Army. What we have to figure out is how best to assist in doing this without creating an USMC solution to the problem. While we are both Marine units, the core values that motivate US Marines do not necessarily cross cultural boundaries and motivate the IqM’s.
While my team and I have some ideas and methods, we are looking for any advice anyone might have on how to assist the IqM in developing a POI that will build this ethos that will endure after we leave.
Any thoughts, ideas, points of contact, or experiences are appreciated.
V/R
Capt Ortiz
Creating esprit-de-corps from scratch.
Sounds like you have a very daunting, and somewhat politically sensitive, task ahead of you.
One difficulty is the lack of any tradition to leverage upon, Iraq not being a maritime power with a significant naval history. Also, the only previous “Marine” unit was the Marine Brigade attached to the As Saiqa Special Forces Division of the Iraqi Republican Guard. Probably not an organization you would want to draw any traditions from. :rolleyes:
Aside from basic light infantry training you have to build a mystique about them. Make them look and feel different from the run of the mill military, just as the Corps does. As you note, grafting USMC core values and traditions might not be the best way (hopefully some of our sociologists and anthropologists may offer to assist).
Since you are starting literally from scratch a good example to perhaps leverage on might be that of General Rollet, known as the father of the Legion. Between WW I and WW II he noticed that the French Foreign Legion was languishing, discipline was poor, and there was talk of disbanding it. So he went about creating several traditions in the Legion: The white kepi as the signature headgear of the Legion and the green tie, epaulets, and blue sash as distinctive parts of the dress uniform. The annual celebration of Cameron was also one of his initiatives.
So some esprit-de-corps suggestions (beyond the basic instruction as light infantry):
Have a very distinctive dress uniform and utility uniform items that distinguish the IqM from all other branches. One thing the French do is “dress up” their cammies by wearing items from their dress uniform with them: the kepi, ribbons, epaulets, etc… This is also done by other militaries. Hold them to a high standard of personal appearance.
Some traditions from the Legion here.
Have distinctive guidons for the units (the USMC ones are a bit plain). Leverage on traditional Iraqi and Islamic symbolism (the crescent and star), and colors (green and black). Whoever designed the MNF-I patch was very cognizant of these.
Create a “code of honor” and a distinctive motto.
Create songs or music if appropriate.
Try to look at past Iraq military units (to include the Republican Guard) to see how they were motivated. Leverage on the history of Iraq to create traditions to be honored.
Have distinctive “holidays” that your Marines will celebrate.
Also, teach them the history of our Corps and other Marine units around the world and make them feel to be part of a very special brotherhood of arms that extends far beyond Iraq.
Inculcating in them a high level of pride in Iraq and the IqM is probably what will carry over once you leave.
If you need any assistance I would be glad to help.
Good luck and Semper Fi!
TREAT Esprit de Corps WITH extreme caution!!
While I agree with the intent of what some here are saying, I would offer a very strong note of caution.
As Umar Al-Mokhtār correctly notes, you do not want to graft on USMC values. Values are a reflection of culture and culture is very dangerous stuff to play around with. I would merely observe the following - and this is OPINION, not fact.
a.) Do not force a culture upon them. Let one grow. The USMC did not invent it's culture. It took 200 years to grow what you see today.
b.) What you can control is the training and the type of man who can complete it successfully. Their culture will become the unit culture. Hard training creates strong bonds, if that training emphasises strong individuals working as a team, then Yallah! ...
and Not everyone can be a Marine, so it must be hard, but also rational eg - Who cannot, not who can.
c.) Core values are essential, BUT you can't invent core values. You can present them and see which ones get picked up and which ones get sustained. You can't have "Courage" as a Core value. It's meaningless. Core values have to build on what is there already, or that which can be proved to have real worth.
d.) Do not glorify being "Light Infantry," as an element of culture. Emphasise that the role/work/task requires operating on foot, WHEN REQUIRED - and as Marines, they can't walk on water!! :eek:
e.) As Marines - and part of the Navy! - I would suggest emphasising a role that requires working at sea and on land. The Army does LAND WARFARE. The "Marines" do those infantry tasks which require the skill and confidence to work within, on and close to water/sea/rivers - so all Marines, can
- Swim
- Climb
- Understand and work around the sea/rivers/marsh and boats.
...and while I understand the need for Berets, haircuts and all other forms of fancy dress, I would emphasise dressing in the way the job demands. And if you are dead set on fancy dress, I'd ditch anything western, like a Beret, and let them wear Kefyah or Shemagh, made from a distinctive fabric - and I'd let them decide, once they've been going a few months/years.
I know this is all pretty banal and obvious stuff, but it may merit some thought.
The fanciness of the uniform will attract some
people and it will repel others. Basic unit values mean more than attire to some while to others the uniform or items of it are extremely important. USMC dress blues are an example, so is a maroon or green beret -- but there are some folks wearing all three who would keep doing what they're doing if you told them they had to wear a kilt and no cover in the wintertime -- and there are those who wear a kilt that will fight you for the ability to do that.
People are different, fancy attracts some, repels others while many can take it or leave it -- none of them are wrong.
Competence at a job OTOH attracts more respect than uniforms attract admiration.
Yeah -- and they were pretty good.