By Jim Daly

When I was in the Marine Corps, not at first, but as I matured, I developed a philosophy. Maybe not an original, but very personal: “I’m afraid to die, but I don’t want to die afraid.” It helped me to prepare for anything in my career and my life.

It pained me to even think of my own mortality. I wondered what would happen. But I don’t remember ever being afraid to die in the Marine Corps, or since.

This philosophy served me very well when I approached any of the many, many, many dangerous and even deadly situations that I faced in my career. Many of those situations I have never talked about, even with my wife. But I was never really afraid to die.

Some people would ask; how is that possible in combat? There are in reality many factors that figure into that lack, or at least the control of fear.

In the Marine Corps we were taught that our primary responsibility was to follow orders without question. To follow orders takes away the responsibility, and takes away fear. We reacted quickly, confidently and unwaveringly in response to orders, regardless of the danger.

We were also trained both in our field of expertise and as Marine infantry, which inspires confidence and takes away fear in virtually all situations. We are trained in our occupational specialty, history, marksmanship, weapons, land navigation, hand-to-hand combat, operating systems (such as radios, equipment, and vehicles), combat strategies, SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape), communications, mission planning and leadership. It is because we have trained and rehearsed exhaustively in preparation for upcoming exercises, missions, and operations that fear seems to melt away when facing danger.

We were taught problem solving skills as individuals, as team members, and as leaders. We learned that sacrifice and loss was sometimes required to accomplish the mission, but that did not cause fear. That was what was expected.

Marines are possibly the best conditioned military men and women in the world, which gives a great advantage when facing difficult and dangerous situations. Most of us have very physically demanding jobs that require and contribute to superb conditioning. We are also encouraged by our leadership and Marine Corps policy to conduct physical training, conditioning and competition outside our normal work as well. We are supported in efforts such as marathons, triathlons, cycling, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), orienteering, and other conditioning and competitions.

Marines are known as a “band of brothers” and it is very true. Nowhere else do such a diverse group of people come together to develop such a strong relationship, become so close, and rely so completely on each other. This comes from the time spent together, training together, facing the same challenges together. Seeing each other overcome those challenges either individually or as a member of the team builds confidence and squelches fears. They all would unhesitatingly and unquestioningly give their life for another.

Marine leadership is also legendary. Marine leaders are made from the most qualified in a system of highly qualified specialists and professionals. There is training from the first day, that they have three duties. 1.) Learn their job. 2.) Train their boss. 3.) Train their successor. Marines never know when their boss will become disabled and they will have to replace them. If they know their job, they know what to do in most situations. If they have trained their boss, the boss knows their job and what to expect. If they have been trained to be someone’s successor, it is much easier to replace someone who is disabled. The leadership then is almost seamless and leads to confidence and overcomes fear.

I am very familiar and comfortable with the Marine Corps, and I am sure that there are many other branches and units of the military that would claim similar confidence and command of fear. I cannot argue. But all of this helped me develop the philosophy: “I’m afraid to die, but I don’t want to die afraid.”

Please Remember: Many of our young men and women have sacrificed greatly around the world, to protect our country, our rights and freedoms, our allies, and the Flag of the United States of America. I am proud to have been one of them, and would gladly defend this great country again today or any day.

Jim Daly, a retired captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a member of the Aberdeen Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 224 and its Veterans Service Officer. He is also a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America.