Navigating the Decline in Marine Discipline, Increasing Marine Corps Retention, the “Basic Daily Routine” and Post-Traumatic Winning, with LtGen David Furness, USMC

This is a great episode with one of the most experienced combat leaders serving in the USMC today but also a leader with an incredibly diversified career spanning not only recruiting but also tours on Capitol Hill watching the sausage get made. Listen in as we discuss the most powerful moments of leadership, pride, fear, and influence in David's Marine Corps career. He sheds light on how to make the most out of poor leadership, how to lead Marines that are lacking discipline, his perspective AND reflection on his "Basic Daily Routine" letter to the 2nd Marine Division in 2019, and how we can potentially solve the Marine Corps' recruiting and retention problem.

LtGen Furness also speaks on what he learned from conducting legislative affairs for the Marine Corps on Capitol Hill as well as helping to implement Mike McNamara's Post-Traumatic Winning program, which aims to prevent suicide and improve the mental health of military officers.

This is an incredibly insightful and empowering discussion that leaders from all branches and of all ages can gain something from.

Episode Timeline/Key Highlights:

[04:39] Introducing Lieutenant General David Furness

[07:10] Reflecting on his experience and lessons he learned from being a Second Lieutenant

[18:16] Advice for Lieutenants and Captains on navigating poor leadership

[26:04] "AHA" moments of pride in David's career & The power of giving your colleagues recognition

[35:33] Should we change the Marine Corps award system?

[45:51] Scary moments in David's career & How to prepare for (and get through) the inevitable scary moments of military leadership

[56:31] The moment David realized the gravity of his influence and responsibility as a leader

[1:04:16] Why legislative affairs on Capitol Hill are vital to the Marine Corps' democracy

[1:15:34] How can we solve the Marine Corps' recruiting and retention problem?

[1:34:44] The decline in Marine discipline, firing Marines, & David's 2019 "Basic Daily Routine" policy letter

[1:54:50] Preventing suicide with leadership strategies and Post-Traumatic Winning

Relevant Resources & Other Mentioned Episodes:

Former Action Guys Podcast: https://apple.co/3uQ8zmj

Follow Ben Cantwell on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3OaGtsE

Learn more about Post-Traumatic Winning: https://bit.ly/3z89Vv4

Listen to Ep 13 SgtMaj Don Reynolds: https://bit.ly/39PZXoq

Listen to Ep 15 LtGen Karsten Heckl: https://bit.ly/3ckkm5K

Photo of 2nd Marine Division Basic Daily Routine Letter: https://bit.ly/3uUhumH

What is Moments in Leadership?

Moments in Leadership is a podcast where you will hear firsthand about the careers of senior military leaders as they share their unique and individual experiences. Moments in Leadership will immerse you in real-life stories where you will learn about the challenging situations these accomplished leaders faced and discover the lessons they learned early in their careers that were the most influential in developing their overall leadership style.

Conceptualized by a group of friends who served together as young officers in the early to mid-1990s sitting around a firepit telling funny leadership stories, Moments in Leadership is designed to provide some relatable context to the formal leadership training leaders of all ranks and services receive throughout their military careers through the power of storytelling.

Connect with Us:

Visit our website: https://www.themiloffice.com

Other Podcasts Interviews with David B. Armstrong

Former Action Guys Podcast EP 141 https://apple.co/3Ppz4GU

Former Action Guys Podcast EP 60 https://apple.co/3Pi128c

Former Action Guys Podcast EP 54 https://apple.co/3Pi128c

About the Host:

David B. Armstrong, CFA, is President and Co-Founder of Monument Wealth Management, an independent wealth management firm he started in 2008 in Alexandria, Va. David received his B.A. from the University of South Carolina in Government & International Relations and his MBA at the University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business in International Finance. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Navy ROTC program and served on Active Duty in the Marine Corps from 1990-1997 as an Artillery Officer and then received a secondary MOS as a Tank Officer. He re-entered the Selected Marine Corps Reserves in 2003 and served in several billets across the Artillery, Tank, and Light Armored Reconnaissance communities. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in late 2018.