A Commandant and His Sergeant Major Carried Enlisted Voices to the Top

Retired Marine General James Jones and former Sergeant Major Alford McMichael reflected on their leadership and efforts to bring enlisted Marines’ concerns to senior officers. In an interview with Newsweek in Washington on the Marine Corps’ 251st birthday, they recalled inviting younger noncommissioned officers to share ideas for improving the service. Jones said changes shaped by Marines at lower ranks can endure beyond an individual commandant’s tenure.