The all-time most infuriating remark given to me concerning poor conduct is this:
“I made a mistake.” No, no, no you didn’t. You made a decision and there is a distinct difference.
A mistake implies you miscalculated, or simply made an error. A typo is a mistake for instance. Sometimes a mistake is made due to a misunderstanding or insufficient knowledge.
A decision on the other hand, is a resolution, the act or process of making a determination, a judgment. It is the act of making up one’s mind. In each and every case of Black Widows misconduct, a conscious choice was made in resolution to carry out the idiotic act which followed. This always results in something known as unintended consequences.
Imagine you have a great big axe handle in front of you. On one end is DECISION and the other end is CONSEQUENCE. You can’t grab the decision end without the consequence coming with it. Likewise, you can’t simply choose the consequence end without the corresponding decision that goes with it.
When you grab one end you’re going to get the other.
So when we consciously choose to violate the rules and articles governing the discipline of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, understand there are going to be consequences. You are in complete control of one, but not the other.
In the eyes of your SgtMaj, you can be a Marine or a leaky bucket of shit.
You are the architect of your own destiny. Choose wisely.
Semper Fidelis!
America’s SgtMaj
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