Why Become an English Major?
By Maria J. Pallotta, Captain, USMC

At an institution that prides itself on its technical specialties, it may appear that majoring in English is impractical or even ridiculous.  For those who actually enjoy reading literature and writing about it, studying English in preparation for a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps may seem like more of a hobby than a field of study.  So is it even possible for English to help make you a capable officer when you graduate?

Actually, yes.  Your military career will require you to think clearly, to organize your thoughts well, and to communicate them in a concise and objective manner.  You will be placed in a variety of situations that will test your written and spoken communications skills, whether it is through command briefings, trying to effect change within your organization, writing letters of recommendation and point papers, or even writing letters of condolence or responses to members of Congress.  Oftentimes, you will have less than five minutes of “face time” to make your point to a senior official.  How will you prepare yourself to be concise, organized, and effective?

As a Navy or Marine Corps officer, your primary skill will be leadership.  This requires knowledge of yourself and of your subordinates.  Weak leaders have trouble not because they lack understanding of their daily tasks, but because they lack knowledge of their people and their motivations.  Whether referring to sailors, Marines, bosses, peers, civilians, customers, or clients, being an effective leader means understanding the world from another’s point of view.  How will you lead a sailor or Marine who comes from a broken family, had no opportunities for college, may have been the victim of abuse, but also has a strong desire to succeed and do something good with his or her life?  Your job as a junior officer will require you to understand a melting pot of subordinates; the study and analysis of literature not only gives you skills to communicate your ideas clearly and to think critically, but it also offers examples of the infinite possibilities of human behavior, interaction, and interpretation.

Most importantly, your writing skills will directly affect the careers of your sailors and Marines.  I have heard numerous times how one meritorious promotion package or Non-commissioned Officer of the Quarter package was selected over the others simply because the write-up was superior.  Possessing ability is one thing; communicating those abilities to higher-ups is essential for advancing a career.  And advancing your subordinates’ careers through your effective writing demonstrates the pinnacle of leadership – taking care of your own.  For me, there is no more rewarding feeling than a sincere “thank you” from a junior Marine who just received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his (or her) hard work.  This type of synergy – the combination of a Marine’s (or sailor’s) stellar performance and my ability to help reward it through my writing skills – is the most gratifying aspect of being a naval officer.

Writing awards has not been the only way I have helped my Marines.  When I was stationed in Okinawa, my platoon sergeant decided to apply to become a warrant officer and asked me for a recommendation.  Three years later, he has completed The Basic School in Quantico and has a platoon himself.  We now keep in touch as fellow officers.  Another sergeant I worked with is finishing his bachelor’s degree as part of the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program; I am happy that I was able to help him, through my recommendations, further his career.

Finally, many people naturally enjoy English, and selecting a major you enjoy is often the best advice to a midshipman, especially when you consider how few are the choices you actually have while you are here.  Majoring in English offers a well-balanced curriculum, providing technical as well as humanities studies during your four years at the Academy.  When considering your career, your degree will be largely secondary to the branch of Naval Service you select.  If and when you decide to resign your commission or retire and join the civilian community, you will be hired not for your major but for your effectiveness as a Navy or Marine Corps officer.  Studying the humanities is a fine way to enhance your leadership and communications skills while gaining an appreciation for the human condition as it pertains to people of all backgrounds.
 
 

Maria Pallotta
CAPT, USMC
Logistics Officer
USNA Class of 1994
M.A., California State University,
Los Angeles, 2001