Publisher's Synopsis
LtGen John Archer Lejeune served as the 13th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps and guided the Corps through the very turbulent period of the 1920s. This was a time of tremendous challenges for the Armed Forces of the United States as the country, following the aftermath of the war to end all wars, craved a return to normalcy and economic prosperity. As a result the military was faced with personnel cutbacks and small budgets. In this environment, and during his tenure as Commandant, General Lejeune would make visionary decisions that not only changed the culture of the Marine Corps, but would also lay the foundation for the development of amphibious warfare that set the groundwork for the successes enjoyed during World War II and beyond. His far reaching actions are still felt in the Marine Corps today. This paper will analyze these major decisions using the strategic leader competencies found in the U.S. Army War College's Strategic Leadership Primer and show the incredible talent possessed by General Lejeune that truly makes him one of the Marine Corps' greatest Strategic leaders.