MCB Camp Pendleton

Press Releases

New I MEF sergeant major seeks to change mindsets

18 Apr 2002 | Sgt. Robert Piper Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- The new I Marine Expeditionary Force sergeant major says the greatest privelege of rank is leading - not micromanaging - Marines. Accordingly, Sgt. Maj. William Kinney says ideas will flow more than one way - not just from the top - and that his door will be open.

"There will be no hierarchy here - no supreme sergeant major telling all the other senior enlisted how things are going to be," Kinney said. "Only by working with all of the I MEF's sergeants major, master gunnery sergeants, first sergeants and master sergeants can this unit truly be ready to deploy in a moments notice."

His focus is to ensure they all work together so good order and discipline are prevalent throughout the commands. This includes handling situations at the lowest level possible to "free-up the officers so they can do what they do best - forward thinking and planning for future operations."

"Lt. Gen. Michael W. Hagee (I MEF commanding general) has a map which hangs behind his desk," Kinney said. "All I want him to have to worry about is that map and the planning for operations that may occur in that location, not what some lance corporal did last weekend - that's my job."

Kinney arrived here March 15, after a two-year stint as the 4th Marine Division sergeant major. He was charged with the care of more than 20,000 active-duty and reserve Marines and sailors.

"The 4th Marine Division is spread out all over the world, with 106 total sites ranging from Maine to Alaska to Hawaii," Kinney said. "It's much like running a MEF, so I think I'm pretty well qualified for this job."

Kinney believes fitness, both physical and mental, is key to combat readiness-especially under the threat of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

"Marines need to realize we are a nation at war, and they can deploy in a moment's notice," Kinney said. "Mental preparation is the first step to success."

Mental readiness includes preparing spouses and loved ones for the possibility of deployment, he said.

"Marines have got to make their families realize that they can leave in a moment's notice," Kinney said. "Tell them exactly what it is you'll be doing - ensure they know you're leaving, but you'll be safe and you'll be back. There are a lot of terrific support programs out there for them, but the best support they receive is from the Marine himself."

Since 9/11, Kinney says Marines seem "much more serious about this war fighting buisness we're in."

His mission is to establish credibility with those Marines, he said.

"A person in my position doesn't get a lot of face-time with younger enlisted Marines, so we have to make the time we do get count," Kinney said. "When I have the opportunity to interact with Marines it's usually for a short period of time - so I better make it worth their while."

Kinney believes that too often leaders get focused on a single agenda and lose sight their real purpose - leading Marines.

"A sergeant major needs to be aware of 90 percent of the things going on in his unit 90 percent of the time," Kinney said. "We have to know what it is our Marines do, because how can you lead someone if you have no idea what their job really is."

One job Kinney clearly understands is that of the I MEF - not only now, but in the future.

"10 years from now we'll have the same mission - a readily deployable expeditionary force," Kinney said. "Except by then, using technology being developed now, the general will have the capability to command and control his forces form the comforts of Camp Pendleton. Although I doubt he'll want to do that - they always like to be with the Marines on the battlefield. At least I know that's where I'll be."

New I MEF sergeant major seeks to change mindsets

18 Apr 2002 | Sgt. Robert Piper Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

PRINT

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- The new I Marine Expeditionary Force sergeant major says the greatest privelege of rank is leading - not micromanaging - Marines. Accordingly, Sgt. Maj. William Kinney says ideas will flow more than one way - not just from the top - and that his door will be open.

"There will be no hierarchy here - no supreme sergeant major telling all the other senior enlisted how things are going to be," Kinney said. "Only by working with all of the I MEF's sergeants major, master gunnery sergeants, first sergeants and master sergeants can this unit truly be ready to deploy in a moments notice."

His focus is to ensure they all work together so good order and discipline are prevalent throughout the commands. This includes handling situations at the lowest level possible to "free-up the officers so they can do what they do best - forward thinking and planning for future operations."

"Lt. Gen. Michael W. Hagee (I MEF commanding general) has a map which hangs behind his desk," Kinney said. "All I want him to have to worry about is that map and the planning for operations that may occur in that location, not what some lance corporal did last weekend - that's my job."

Kinney arrived here March 15, after a two-year stint as the 4th Marine Division sergeant major. He was charged with the care of more than 20,000 active-duty and reserve Marines and sailors.

"The 4th Marine Division is spread out all over the world, with 106 total sites ranging from Maine to Alaska to Hawaii," Kinney said. "It's much like running a MEF, so I think I'm pretty well qualified for this job."

Kinney believes fitness, both physical and mental, is key to combat readiness-especially under the threat of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

"Marines need to realize we are a nation at war, and they can deploy in a moment's notice," Kinney said. "Mental preparation is the first step to success."

Mental readiness includes preparing spouses and loved ones for the possibility of deployment, he said.

"Marines have got to make their families realize that they can leave in a moment's notice," Kinney said. "Tell them exactly what it is you'll be doing - ensure they know you're leaving, but you'll be safe and you'll be back. There are a lot of terrific support programs out there for them, but the best support they receive is from the Marine himself."

Since 9/11, Kinney says Marines seem "much more serious about this war fighting buisness we're in."

His mission is to establish credibility with those Marines, he said.

"A person in my position doesn't get a lot of face-time with younger enlisted Marines, so we have to make the time we do get count," Kinney said. "When I have the opportunity to interact with Marines it's usually for a short period of time - so I better make it worth their while."

Kinney believes that too often leaders get focused on a single agenda and lose sight their real purpose - leading Marines.

"A sergeant major needs to be aware of 90 percent of the things going on in his unit 90 percent of the time," Kinney said. "We have to know what it is our Marines do, because how can you lead someone if you have no idea what their job really is."

One job Kinney clearly understands is that of the I MEF - not only now, but in the future.

"10 years from now we'll have the same mission - a readily deployable expeditionary force," Kinney said. "Except by then, using technology being developed now, the general will have the capability to command and control his forces form the comforts of Camp Pendleton. Although I doubt he'll want to do that - they always like to be with the Marines on the battlefield. At least I know that's where I'll be."