It is my highest honor to serve alongside each of you in the 1st Marine Division - the most decorated Division in the history of our Corps. We inherit a legacy forged by the legions of heroes who preceded us, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedoms our Nation enjoys. Together, we share the awesome privilege to serve under the Blue Diamond colors, sustaining the forward momentum established by our predecessors.
As the Ground Combat Element for I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), we have the sacred responsibility to fulfill our defining purpose - ensuring we are ready to answer the Nation’s call right now, in any clime and place, delivering decisive results every time, in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps. This governs everything we do – our continuous preparation for combat, as well as our conduct in and out of uniform. My priorities follow:
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Warfighting Readiness encompasses our ability to deploy and to be employed at echelon across the full spectrum of operations. We will meet our Global Force Management (GFM) requirements while supporting I MEF campaign priorities in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM); hone our proficiency to fight and win today - as a Division, MEF (Forward), or as part of a Naval Task Force; and maintain our crucial role in our Corps’ lethality and survivability modernization efforts. Accordingly, through rigorous standards-based training, we will:
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As the world’s preeminent practitioners of multi-domain combined arms warfighting, we will live our warfighting philosophy grounded in clear intent, mission-type orders and trust across echelons of command, maintaining clear and open lines of communication across our formations.
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Condition our minds and bodies to thrive in uncertainty and adversity; foster a bias for action grounded in sound judgment; empower small unit leader initiative, creativity, and decision-making; thoroughly assess the ever-present risk that dominates today’s complex operational and training environments, ensuring a clear understanding of risk-taking authority, and applying appropriate mitigation measures.
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Demonstrate daily mastery in the foundational fundamentals across warfighting functions and command responsibilities. We will achieve balanced excellence across training, accountability, materiel readiness, and the stewardship of our resources, facilities, and training areas. Leaders will pay attention to details, inspect what we expect, and foster a culture of excellence, ownership, and responsibility in everything we do, adhering to our standards, basic discipline, and time-tested habits of thought and action.
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Remain Always Faithful – Semper Fidelis is more than our motto; it is who we are. Our Marines, Sailors, civilians, and families are our center of gravity. Accordingly, we will:
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Promote command climates and cultures where every member of the Blue Diamond is treated with dignity and respect. Healthy command climates are critical to fostering the trust, confidence, and cohesion inherent in our warfighting philosophy.
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Support the mental, moral, physical, social, and spiritual resilience of our Marines, Sailors, civilians and families; commit to being men and women of good character; and leading with a happy heart, in keeping with our Core Values – Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
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Be great teammates, who know our positions and play them well, while maintaining a “can-do” mentality. Success within our Division and across the MAGTF, alongside 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and the I MEF Major Subordinate Elements is a team effort. Our cohesion, strength, and adaptability directly contribute to our ability to train, fight, and win as a Team. Our ability to task organize and integrate combat capabilities as a GCE and within a MAGTF is a defining attribute of how we fight.
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Thank you for who you are and what you do every day. Enjoy every minute of your time in the Blue Diamond…There is truly no better place to be. Wherever we are…forward deployed, training at home station, or on leave…Remember you are a member of the Blue Diamond, be proud of our lineage and the Corps we are privileged to represent, and keep our Honor clean.
Semper Fidelis,
Robert C. Fulford