The book Uncommon Men: Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps by John C. Chapin summarizes the first 11 Senior Enlisted Leaders of the Marine Corps from a Marine Corps retired Captain’s point of view. Captain Chapin uses interviews, personal comments, official documents, family photographs and correspondence, to give a true background of the top enlisted billet. Captain Chapin tells of each Sergeant Major’s personified virtues traditionally associated with Marine noncommissioned officers In 1957 the Marine Corps formed a new billet: the Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps. Captain Chaplin goes into great detail and offers insights into the senior command levels of the United States' elite fighting force. Captain Chapin portrays not only the lives …show more content…
It is a very powerful book, and couldn’t have been told better then by a man who actually served in the Corps. Captain Chapin gave firsthand knowledge and kept me eager to turn each page. It was an interesting read, as well as educational by teaching the traditions that are not commonly known, like the year (1957) the billet was formed. It was also interesting hearing firsthand accounts of the World War II island campaigns, as well as the difficulties each different Sergeant Major had to face. Social experimentation that threatened the Marines' high standards, drugs, low morale, discipline problems, and the need to supervise the Corps' recruit training, are all issues which Captain Chapin addressed, and I feel that these issues are still very alive and threatening in today’s Corps. In conclusion, I feel that I am a stronger NCO for reading this book. The Marine Corps, its leaders, and its Marines have faced many challenges since 1775, and I am proud to be part of the 1% of the population to claim the title United States Marine. The Corps has been influenced by a few great leaders, and will continue to be influenced by even greater leaders as the Marine Corps continues to be the most