In this episode, we discuss:
*Connor's time with Marine Security Forces
*Corporals Course
*Serving in 1/7 as a squad leader and overcoming the stigma of Security Forces NCOs
*The Advanced Infantry Marine Course
*Connor’s deployment to Darwin, Australia
*Keeping Marines in a forward-deployed mindset
*What excited Connor most about being a squad leader
*What concerned him most
*Some of the mistakes he’s made as a squad leader
*The atmosphere and culture he tried to create in his first squad
*The training and PME programs he implemented
*Balancing the demands of bureaucracy with preparing Marines for combat
*Connor’s expectations for his junior Marines, fire team leaders, fellow squad leaders, platoon sergeant, platoon commander, and company commander
*What makes an ideal squad leader
*Balancing one's personal life with dedication to the profession of arms
*What makes a squad leader from hell
*The most important thing squad leaders do besides leading Marines in combat and preparing them for it
*Connor’s experiences as a platoon sergeant in 1/8
*The one thing Connor would have liked to have known about his platoon before becoming its platoon sergeant
*The current culture and atmosphere in 1/8
*Connor’s philosophy of leadership and how it’s evolved
*His thoughts on TDGs and their facilitation