From the Founder
By Nicholas Edmond Baucom — Founder & Commander, Two Marines Moving
Of all the schools I attended in the Marine Corps, Infantry Squad Leader's Course stands out the most.
When I look back on my years in uniform, that course remains one of the most difficult things I have ever done. In fact, I'll say something that surprises some people.
"From a training perspective, Infantry Squad Leader's Course was harder than just about anything I experienced in Iraq."
No exaggeration. No embellishment. That's simply how I remember it.
Who Was in That Room
What made the course unique was the quality of the Marines who attended. There were no boots there. Not one.
- —Every Marine in the course had already spent years in the infantry.
- —Every Marine had already earned the title Marine.
- —Every Marine was already serving in a leadership billet — typically as a Fire Team Leader or Infantry Squad Leader.
- —Every Marine had at least one deployment under his belt.
- —Many had more.
This was 2007. The Global War on Terror was still in full swing. Combat experience wasn't unusual in the classroom. It was normal.
- Seasoned infantry Marines.
- Leaders of Marines.
- Combat veterans.
- Studs.
The Attrition Rate
That's what made the attrition rate so remarkable. The Marine Corps wasn't taking average Marines and pushing them to their limits. The Marine Corps was taking some of the best infantry NCOs from across the infantry community and pushing them to their limits.
And the standards never moved.
As I remember it, we started with roughly one hundred Marines. By graduation, only about thirty-five remained.
The course wasn't designed to determine whether you were a good Marine. Most of the Marines who arrived were already good Marines. The course existed to develop Infantry Squad Leaders and to enforce an exceptionally high standard.
Day One
And it started immediately. Before the course truly got underway, we conducted a Physical Fitness Test. Remember, every Marine attending already had a first-class PFT. You needed a first-class PFT just to get a seat in the course.
That wasn't enough.
The Marines in the bottom twenty-five percent of the class by score were dropped from the course. On Day One.
Think About That
- You check into a six-week course in your Alphas.
- Your unit expects you to be gone for over a month.
- You've already proven yourself as an infantry leader.
- You've earned your place.
- Then, twenty-four hours later, you're headed back to your unit.
That had to be a rough conversation.
And these weren't weak Marines. These weren't lazy Marines. These weren't problem Marines. These were highly capable Marines. Infantry Squad Leader's Course simply demanded more.
The Standard Was the Standard
As the weeks continued, Marines kept disappearing. One day they were standing in formation. The next day they were gone.
- —I watched competent Marines not make it.
- —I watched strong Marines not make it.
- —I watched experienced Marines not make it.
The standard didn't care how many deployments you had. The standard didn't care about your reputation back at your unit.
The standard was the standard.
What Persistence Actually Means
One of the lessons I carried away from that experience is that persistence matters. People often focus on talent. People often focus on intelligence. People often focus on natural ability. Those things matter.
- —Persistence matters too.
- —The ability to continue when things become difficult matters.
- —The ability to keep moving when you're tired matters.
- —The ability to perform when you're uncomfortable matters.
- —The ability to refuse to quit matters.
How I Graduated
Looking back, I still don't know exactly how I graduated.
- —I wasn't the fastest Marine there.
- —I wasn't the strongest Marine there.
- —I wasn't the smartest Marine there.
What I can tell you is this:
I didn't quit.
Every day I showed up. Every event, I gave what I had. Every challenge, I kept moving. Sometimes that's enough.
What the Schoolhouse Taught Me
The lessons from Infantry Squad Leader's Course didn't stay in the schoolhouse. I've carried them into business, leadership, and life.
- —Standards matter.
- —Preparation matters.
- —Discipline matters.
- —Persistence matters.
- —And quitting is rarely the answer.
Looking back today, I don't remember every class. I don't remember every graded event. I don't remember every field exercise.
- —What I remember is the standard.
- —I remember being surrounded by outstanding Marines.
- —I remember being challenged.
- —I remember being tested.
- —And I remember standing with the Marines who remained at graduation.
That certificate meant something. Not because the school was impossible. Not because the graduates were superhuman. Because the course demanded sustained excellence from Marines who were already performing at a high level.
Years later, I remain grateful that I attended. It was one of the hardest schools I ever completed. It was one of the most valuable leadership experiences of my life.
When things get difficult, don't quit.
Sometimes that's more powerful than people realize.
Semper Fidelis.
Nicholas E. Baucom — Sergeant, USMC (2002–2008) · 0311 Infantry Rifleman · Graduate, Infantry Squad Leader's Course
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