Esprit De Corps: Guiding Principles & Spirituality for Modern Marine Teams

By JoAnna Mendoza

Retired Marine Drill Instructor, Gunnery Sergeant JoAnna Mendoza, outlines how the United States Marine Corps produces winning teams. She provides unique insight than can only be gained from decades of experience developing teams. Building winning teams takes more than just assigning a group of people to the same mission. Packed with techniques, exercises, and inspiration designed to bring the best out of your team. Esprit de Corps will not only take you through the science of team building, but the spirituality behind how to establish connections that will last a lifetime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: May 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781504381031

JoAnna Mendoza

JoAnna Mendoza is a retired US Marine, who has deployed all over the world, to include multiple combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. She has served as a Drill Instructor, Drill Instructor-Instructor, and as a Sergeant Instructor. JoAnna holds a BA in Intelligence Studies, and a Certification in Strength and Conditioning Training. Additionally, she has attended various military schools, such as: Combat Life Saver, Marine Corps Martial Arts Black Belt, Formal Instructor, Curriculum Developer, Substance Abuse Control Officer, Suicide Prevention Officer, Uniformed Victim Advocate, Marine Corps Special Operations Training Course, and various leadership academies. As a Drill Instructor she changed lives. As an instructor at Drill Instructor School, one of the most esteemed schools, in the Marine Corps, she impacted the future of the Marine Corps, by directly influencing how Marine Drill Instructors transformed selected men and women into Marines. Her passion and can-do-attitude are a result of overcoming challenges in her personal and professional life. As a self-proclaimed advocate for underrepresented populations, she consistently strives to bring awareness to issues within our society. Whether, it’s through, sharing personal experiences, direct connections, social networking sites, or through writing, she is committed to providing insight, information and resources to help those in need. She believes that each one of us is on a mission to find a unique gift to share with the world that will make it a better place. No gift is too big, or too small. JoAnna continues to inspire people wherever she goes. After the Marine Corps, it was important for her to secure a position that would allow her to make a difference. Currently, she works for an agency that allows her to assist others provide safe and loving homes for children and adults with special needs. JoAnna is a single mother and her son, Aidan, is her pride and joy. They currently live in the beautiful Arizona desert.

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Copyright © 2017 JoAnna Mendoza.

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The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

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Print information available on the last page.

ISBN: 978-1-5043-8102-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-8103-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017908098

Balboa Press rev. date: 05/24/2017

Contents

Chapter 1 Corporate Corps

Chapter 2 Identifying the Plague

Chapter 3 Spirit of the Body

Chapter 4 Establish Team Size and Structure

Chapter 5 Get to Know Your Team

Chapter 6 Define Culture, Values, and Mission

Chapter 7 Educate Your Team on Organizational Origins

Chapter 8 Determine How the Team Will Identify Themselves

Chapter 9 Test the Team’s Competence

Chapter 10 Keep Your Marines Inspired

Chapter 11 The Keeper of the Flame

Dedication

To those who walked before me, who lit the flame;

To those who walk beside me, that guards the flame;

And to those, in the future,

Who will keep the flame lit

For generations to come.

Preface

I N 1999 I JOINED THE Marine Corps, after serving in the United States Navy for three years, under the apprenticeship program. The military has been my life for over twenty years. After retiring, I felt it was important to share what I have learned along the way. Since I can no longer lead as an active-duty marine, this book is my attempt to directly impact a generation of marines who have the ability to affect change, to take things back to the basics. When I enlisted, marines polished their boots and ironed their uniforms. Our uniforms were stiffly starched, so that they made a crinkling sound when we walked. Tattoos were acceptable. Non-judicial punishment was proof you had joined the ranks as a real marine. And word ¹ was passed in formation.

The company gunny was the most inspirational marine in the unit. You know the type—prior drill instructor who spoke with his hands. Every time he talked to you, he aimed loaded knife hands at your face. He rocked a high and tight and said the words freaking and daggon. The company gunny told fascinating stories and drank a pot of black coffee every day. He had 101 reasons why marines are awesome and bragged about why the Marine Corps is the most elite fighting force in the world. We considered him the keeper of the flame.

The keeper of the flame wasn’t just reserved for prior drill instructors. It could be any marine who carried a heart shaped into an eagle, globe, and anchor. I considered myself a keeper of the flame. I vowed to protect our legacy through continued practice of our corps’ traditions, customs, and courtesies. I taught young marines about traditions and showed them how to foster a passion for who we are and what we do. I told colorful tales of the past, passionate stories of warriors that went before us. And in doing so, I instilled a deeper sense of pride and ownership.

It’s not enough to assume that marines will research our history on their own. We must inspire them to do so, in order to keep the flame lit. Something magical happens when we share stories about our legacy. It shows that we value the lessons learned from our corps’ illustrious history and that we will never forget.

It is my deepest wish that you share the contents of this book, in order to strengthen our connections to each other and nourish the spirit of our beloved Marine Corps. Maintaining