The Marine Corps Leadership Trait BEARING is defined as, “the way you conduct and carry yourself. Your manner should reflect alertness, competence, confidence,and control.” by the Official Blog of the Marine Corps.

"This trait is stressed by drill instructorscontinually throughout recruit training. I remember hearing tall tales ofexperiments resulting in the creation of sand fleas just to testrecruits’ bearing at MCRD Parris Island, S.C. Of course they aren’t true, but the fact remains they do a very good job of teaching recruits tomaintain their BEARING.

It is those times of maintaining BEARING that I use to frame my understanding of this trait. A leader must keep their composure bycontrolling their mind and their body no matter the circumstances.

Which would be more effective: a leaderhysterically shouting orders OR a leader calmly directing his assets? The calm,cool, and collected leader will prevail where the hysterical fails every time.

All of us have had to maintain our BEARING at somepoint in our career, whether it was recruit training or getting a goodol’ fashioned ass-chewing from the first sergeant!"  By: Staff Sgt. Greg Thomas