Marine Corps Fire Team: A model for Men’s discipleship

The United States Marine Corps is recognized around the world and throughout its history as one of the most lethal and effective fighting forces ever assembled. A brief examination of how the Marine Corps structure functions as a national asset in “natural warfare” may give us some insight into how our men’s ministry structure and function could be a more effective Kingdom asset in “spiritual warfare”.

At the top of the military command structure is The Commandant who leads the four combat divisions. Each division consists of three regiments and each regiment is made up of three battalions. The battalions are then made up of three or more companies and each company consists of three or more platoons. Each platoon is made up of three squads which consists of three fire teams. Herein we have the building block, the foundation of this storied fighting force residing in the fire team which is made up of “a quad”, three marines and their leader. Does this remind you of Jesus leading Peter, James and John?

At each level of organization, from the Commandant to the lance corporal who leads his fire team, there is a short, specific, and defining mission. For purposes of this discussion, I would like to emphasize the squad and its three fire teams. The Commandant, General Robert Neller, recently made this statement, “To be clear, the mission of the Marine Rifle Squad remains unchanged: to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by means of fire, maneuver, and close combat.”

One of the first things the reader may note is that a Marine is never left to fight alone. In fact, a marine is always in close relationship with three other marines one of whom is a leader. For a moment, just think how this could change the dynamics of a typical local church men’s ministry if no man was ever left to fight alone.

Equally important, these four marines are in close relationship with eight other marines and they all have the same leader. Does this organizational structure and function sound familiar…maybe like Jesus and the twelve? Could this be a discipleship principle Our Lord was laying for us, “to remain unchanged”? In church life I have noticed that this “close relationship dynamic” is often missing in ministry to men.

Just imagine what could happen if we seriously pursued the Jesus Model in the local church ministry to men. The concept has worked well in the Marine Corps in times past and in the present age of technology. Wherever implemented, it produces unit cohesion by bringing young and old, senior and junior into a trust-based relationship unit with shared values and commitment to common goals. From my own combat experiences as a Seawolf supporting navy SEALs, I can say unequivocally…it works! Likewise from my own experiences in “discipling men to disciple other men”…it works!

Indeed, the Jesus Model is so very simple we often overlook it and buy the latest Christian men's book to build a model around. Why not be more diligent to use the latest Christian men's book, or even old Christian men’s book, to build the Jesus Model from. Then we would be more effective in “making disciples”, armoring up our brothers to be a consequential threat to the kingdom of darkness and in influencing our culture for Christ.

Barney Barnes, 06-13-2021, Promise Keepers National Ambassador for the Military and Prisons