Scott Huesing sharpened his leadership skills in the most prestigious management program on earth: combat. In 24 years of honorable service in the Marine Corps, Huesing deployed 10 times and served in over 60 countries. Eventually retiring as a Major, Huesing led the Marines of Echo Company, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines as part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in Iraq. His bestselling book, Echo In Ramadi: The Firsthand Story of U.S. Marines in Iraq’s Deadliest City has received praise from critics, civilians, and veterans alike.
Recently, ClearanceJobs had the pleasure of speaking with Maj. Huesing about his writing, his experiences in the Marine Corps, and the unique struggles and strengths that veterans bring to their civilian lives.
From Running from the Cops – to Running in the Corps
Though Huesing retired from the Marines as a respected, commissioned infantry officer, he did not start out that way. His first car was a motorcycle. He did his fair share of getting into trouble and running from the police. He was not a model student, but he did eek out his high school diploma. Then, through a friend, Huesing became interested in the Marine Corps and visited a recruiter. As a young man who enjoyed pushing boundaries, he felt an instant connection to the Corps.
“You walk into the [recruiting] office and there’s camouflage netting all over the place and they’re wearing these sharp uniforms and they give you this pitch. It sound’s really exciting. And it sounds like a really risky endeavor to get into and I thought, ‘These guys are a perfect fit for me.’” He enlisted in 1989, served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then realized how valuable a college education could be for him. So he shifted from active duty to the reserves and attended Illinois State.
Though unfocused in high school, Huesing now excelled in college and graduated in three years. How was such a shift possible? For Huesing, he credits his service in the USMC. “It’s really a testament to what the military – and especially the Marine Corps – gives young men and women – that discipline to focus on what is important. To treat things like a mission. And that’s what I did with college.”
Shortly thereafter, he was encouraged to apply to Officer Candidate School. So in a span of a few years, Scott Huesing went from high school troublemaker to an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps.
Echo in Ramadi and the Experience of Combat
Since its release in February, Huesing’s book Echo in Ramadi has struck a deep chord with readers. It provides the civilian with a window into the trauma, chaos, humor, and valor of combat. But even more so, it is a testament to that small percentage of exceptional Americans who serve in the military.
“I wrote the book to really honor the sacrifices and spirit of the Marines and soldiers who I fought with and the families who supported us. They’re really what made us capable of fighting and surviving and winning on the deadliest streets we’ve ever fought on in modern urban combat in Ramadi, Iraq.”
As part of the surge strategy under Pres. George W. Bush and Gen. David Petraeus, the book highlights a 10-month period in 2006 when Huesing led the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in the Second Battle of Ramadi.
But while Huesing does share the brutal realities of men at war, the relationships and personal stories he highlights are the focal point of the book. Like having to call Geni Libby, the mother of Cpl. Dustin Libby, to tell her how her 22-year-old son died. Or how patriotic Iraqis like “Jake,” “Ford,” and “Big Sam,” served as interpreters for coalition forces, braving horrible brutalization at the hands of the insurgents. As Huesing puts it, “The book is really not a war story. The book is about people and that power of human connection – and the backdrop just happens to be one of the bloodiest cities we’ve ever fought in.
Leadership on and Off the Battlefield
One of the most inspiring things about Scott Huesing is that his leadership of his men was not left on the battlefield. Aside from providing college recommendation letters or employment references, Huesing works as a public speaker to crowds of veterans, active duty military, and gold star families. His passion for leadership on and off the battlefield is what led him to his role as Executive Director of Save the Brave, a non-profit that provides camaraderie and stress management programs for veterans. In fact, Nick Velez, founder of Save the Brave, served under Scott in Ramadi.
Through outreach programs, Save the Brave looks to give veterans struggling with PTS the chance to share their struggles and their stories in a safe environment. So many veterans feel the loss of brotherhood and camaraderie after leaving the military; Huesing and Save the Brave work to rebuild that sense of community. In Huesing’s mind, that’s the best way to help those who are struggling. “If we can reach just that one guy and re-light that fuse, and see the light in their eyes again, that’s what’s important.
