“Follow Me”: What Infantry Squad Leader’s Course Taught Me About Leadership
(Careers, Jobs, and Why Standards Matter at Two Marines Moving)
In 2007, I attended and graduated Infantry Squad Leader’s Course (ISLC).
It was the toughest course I faced in the Marine Corps.
Not because it was unfamiliar.
Not because it was theoretical.
But because every Marine there was already a squad leader.
This was not a course for beginners.
This was a course for proven performers.
Who Shows Up to Infantry Squad Leader’s Course
To understand ISLC, civilians need context.
Every student:
- Was a United States Marine
- Was an MOS‑trained infantryman
- Was already serving as a squad leader
- Was selected by their unit as someone worth sending
This wasn’t a self‑selecting crowd.
Every unit sent who they believed could handle the standard.
Most Marines arrived with real leadership experience and combat time. Everyone showed up expected to perform from the first minute.
The Standard Was Set Immediately
ISLC does not ease students in.
Physical fitness is assumed, not developed. Mental toughness is expected, not coached up. From the outset, the course makes one thing clear:
If you cannot meet the standard immediately, you will not remain.
That reality establishes discipline quickly and removes any illusions about what kind of course this is.
This Course Was Different
Infantry Squad Leader’s Course operates differently than most professional military education.
ISLC is not designed to teach fundamentals—it is designed to pressure‑test them.
The pace is relentless. Days are long and compressed, with instruction, movement, planning, execution, and evaluation running together. There is little separation between classroom learning and field application because the course is built around the idea that leaders must think, decide, and act while tired.
Students are evaluated continuously—not just on what they know, but on how they lead while fatigued, stressed, and short on time.
The course places heavy emphasis on:
- Tactical decision‑making
- Clear communication
- Writing and delivering orders
- Leading Marines through complex tasks
- Teaching and correcting others
- Maintaining standards when conditions degrade
This is not about memorization or theory.
It is about judgment, presence, and responsibility.
ISLC assumes you already know your job.
What it measures is whether others should follow you when things get hard.
Attrition Was the Design
Not everyone who attends Infantry Squad Leader’s Course is expected to graduate.
The course is intentionally selective. Standards are enforced, not negotiated. Those who cannot maintain performance—physically, mentally, or as leaders—are removed.
Graduation is not guaranteed by attendance.
It is earned through consistent performance under pressure.
“Follow Me” Is Not a Slogan — It’s a Test
The phrase most closely associated with the infantry squad leader is simple:
“Follow Me.”
That phrase is not motivational.
It is positional.
An infantry squad leader:
- Moves first
- Accepts risk
- Sets the pace
- Takes responsibility when friction increases
ISLC exists to determine who can do that reliably.
What This Has to Do With Two Marines Moving
Two Marines Moving was built on the same leadership philosophy.
Leadership here means:
- Stepping into the hardest problems
- Maintaining standards under pressure
- Being clear when things move fast
- Leading from the front instead of directing from comfort
We don’t ask Team Leaders or Crew Chiefs to do anything leadership wouldn’t do themselves.
That is “Follow Me” leadership, applied to civilian work.
Why Veterans Recognize This Culture Immediately
Veterans understand:
- Standards are not personal
- Attrition is part of excellence
- Leadership is responsibility, not entitlement
- Respect is earned through consistency
That’s why so many veterans feel at home here.
Why Civilians Can Thrive Here Too
You don’t need combat experience to succeed at Two Marines Moving.
But you do need to be willing to:
- Learn under pressure
- Accept clear expectations
- Carry responsibility
- Lead from the front when it’s your turn
Those who do often advance quickly.
The Recruiting Truth (Soft Pitch)
If you’re looking for:
- A job with meaning
- Clear standards
- Leadership opportunities
- Industry‑leading pay
- A culture that rewards accountability
Then Two Marines Moving may be the right place for you.
We don’t promise easy.
We promise earned.
The Bottom Line
Infantry Squad Leader’s Course reinforced a truth that still holds:
Leadership is not a title.
It is a posture.
And the simplest leadership phrase remains the most honest:
“Follow Me.”
If that resonates with you, you’ll likely fit in just fine here.
—
Nicholas Edmond Baucom
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Two Marines Moving
Marine Corps Infantry Veteran