Compass Points - Mission & Values
For a Stronger Marine Corps
Our Mission
Provide an independent source of broader thinking, deeper understanding, and better decisions, for a stronger Marine Corps.
Our Values
We believe the Marine Corps must be responsive, relevant, and ready today, and more so tomorrow.
We believe the Marine Corps is never owned by any small group of people, but is always held in sacred trust by every Marine and friend of the Corps, past, present, and future.
We believe Marine Corps success in garrison, in the field, and in operations is a complex ecology of the physical, the intellectual, and the spiritual.
We believe in the complexity of combat.
We believe good data is good, but waiting for more and more data is not necessarily better.
We believe no information system can or will sweep away the fog of war.
We believe nothing is more uncertain than certainty.
We believe planning is good, but first plans rarely survive first contact.
We believe Marines must prepare to battle skilled, devious, and unpredictable adversaries
We believe Marines must be always ready to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel enemy assault by fire and close combat.
We believe in combined-arms, multi-mission capable Marine Corps units that can quickly arrive anywhere, and address any conflict or crisis.
We believe the Marine Corps must experiment with new technology constantly, and adopt it prudently.
We believe in practicing and perfecting proven methods, while also experimenting with and adopting new methods.
We believe in the Marine Corps culture of teamwork, trust, creativity, and courage.
We believe in candid culture among Marines, never cancel culture.
We believe the strength of the Marine Corps comes from the valor at the heart of each Marine. Each Marine draws strength from the entire Corps of Marines. Together, all Marines are joined across time and geography by the unbreakable red stripe of service.
Marines have a long history when it comes to this value: "We believe in combined-arms, multi-mission capable Marine Corps units that can quickly arrive anywhere and address any conflict or crisis."
Strategically Unexpected Places
In the summer of 1941, the 6th Marines along with the rest of the 2nd Marine Division in southern California was forming and training for the jungles of the southern Pacific. However, events in Europe were turning resulting in strategic discussions between Churchill and Roosevelt.
Roosevelt directed the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Harold R. Stark, to have a Marine brigade ready to sail in 15 days' time. This decision was facilitated by the fact that the 6th Marines, slated for expeditionary duty, was at that moment in route from the west coast to the east. With the possible mission of either the seizure of Martinique or the occupation of the Azores.
While the 6th Marines were in route, the President ordered the suspension of the planning for the Azores and begin planning for the movement to Iceland. When the regiment arrive in Charleston cold weather clothing was issued…a real shocker to the Marines. The 1st Marine Brigade task organization was completed with the addition of the 5th Marine Defense Battalion from Parris Island. The Task Organization now included:
Brigade Headquarters
Platoon Brigade Band
6th Marines
5th Defense Battalion (less 5-inch Artillery Group)
2d Battalion, 10th Marines
Company A, 2d Tank Battalion (less 3d Platoon)
Company A, 2d Medical Battalion
Company C, 1st Engineer Battalion
1st Platoon, Company A, 2d Service Battalion
3d Platoon, 1st Scout Company
Chemical Platoon
On June 16, 1941, General Marston, the 1st Marine Brigade Commander received simple and direct orders; "In cooperation with the British Garrison, Defend Iceland against Hostile Attack."
On 7 July, the Brigade arrived in Reykjavik and began offloading. On 9 March 1942, the last elements of the 6th Marines would depart Iceland in route back to Camp Elliot, near San Diego, CA. The 6th Marines would then arrive in Guadalcanal via New Zealand on 4 January 1943 to replace elements of the 1st Marine Division.
Hear, Hear! Damn Right! To "Hell" with "WOKE"! Get Back to Training "Spartan Warriors"! Semper Fi!