MajGen Dale Alford: Advice and Insights From a 37-Year-Long Career in the Marine Corps-A Follow-up to Episode 14

Moments in Leadership

Just a few hours before he packed up his home and set off to Georgia to retire, Major General Dale Alford sat down with me to offer his final thoughts on his 37-year-long career in the Marine Corps. Listen in as we discuss some of his most noteworthy lessons learned as well as the key things emerging leaders need to know to be successful in their career.

MajGen Alford reflects on the leadership traits and habits he developed throughout his time in the military, the decisions that led to his success (and struggle), and how you can make the most of your leadership role. He shares his thoughts on the worst parts of being a Marine Corps General, how to overcome the constant worry you might feel as a Captain, and the important things you should do before retiring from active duty.

Join me in sending off this USMC legend to a happy and hearty retirement!

Finally, please consider supporting this project at the new Patreon site at: https://www.patreon.com/momentsinleadership

Episode Timeline/Key Highlights:

[04:36] Introducing MajGen Dale Alford

[06:04] What personality/leadership trait do you have that makes you so admired and respected?

[09:21] Advice for leaders who are 1 year away from military retirement.

[12:22] Important things you should do before retiring from the military.

[14:49] What tours or roles would you have liked to try during your Marine Corps career?

[17:57] Advice for Captains who have been put on drill field or recruiting duty.

[22:00] Pivotal points in a leader’s career: What leadership decisions lead to success and which lead to struggle?

[34:20] The #1 factor considered in Colonels becoming a General Officer.

[38:35] The power of mastering your own authority and focusing on your own performance as a Captain.

[42:29] The worst parts of being a General.

[45:27] What should future military leaders be thinking about very carefully?

[47:28] How can we make the Marine Corps reserves more enticing so we don’t keep losing talent?

[49:57] How Dale intends to satisfy his call to service after retirement.

Relevant Resources & Other Mentioned Episodes:

Moments In Leadership Patreon Account: https://bit.ly/3SBxK6f
Listen to Ep 14 with MajGen Dale Alford: https://bit.ly/3U5zjdq

Listen to Dale on Controversy & Clarity with Damien O’Connell: https://bit.ly/3QCvwBw

What is Moments in Leadership?

Moments in Leadership is a podcast where you will hear firsthand about the careers of senior military leaders as they share their unique and individual experiences. Moments in Leadership will immerse you in real-life stories where you will learn about the challenging situations these accomplished leaders faced and discover the lessons they learned early in their careers that were the most influential in developing their overall leadership style.

Conceptualized by a group of friends who served together as young officers in the early to mid-1990s sitting around a firepit telling funny leadership stories, Moments in Leadership is designed to provide some relatable context to the formal leadership training leaders of all ranks and services receive throughout their military careers through the power of storytelling.

Connect with Us:

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Other Podcasts Interviews with David B. Armstrong

Scuttlebutt Podcast EP 38: https://apple.co/3py1Wly
Former Action Guys Podcast EP 161: https://apple.co/3d1GVN0
Former Action Guys Podcast EP 141 https://apple.co/3Ppz4GU

Former Action Guys Podcast EP 60 https://apple.co/3Pi128c

Former Action Guys Podcast EP 54 https://apple.co/3Pi128c

About the Host:

David B. Armstrong, CFA, is President and Co-Founder of Monument Wealth Management, an independent wealth management firm he started in 2008 in Alexandria, Va. David received his B.A. from the University of South Carolina in Government & International Relations and his MBA at the University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business in International Finance. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Navy ROTC program and served on Active Duty in the Marine Corps from 1990-1997 as an Artillery Officer and then received a secondary MOS as a Tank Officer. He re-entered the Selected Marine Corps Reserves in 2003 and served in several billets across the Artillery, Tank, and Light Armored Reconnaissance communities. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in late 2018.