From the Founder
Nicholas Edmond Baucom — Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Two Marines Moving
In 2007, I attended and graduated Infantry Squad Leader's Course (ISLC). It was the toughest formal leadership course I attended during my time 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 some 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. Units did not send volunteers simply looking for another school. They sent Marines they believed could meet the standard. Many students arrived with real leadership experience. Many had combat deployments. Everyone arrived expected to perform from the first minute.
The Standard Was Established Immediately
Physical fitness is assumed.
Mental toughness is assumed.
Leadership responsibility is assumed.
From the outset, the course communicates a simple reality: if you cannot meet the standard immediately, you will not remain. The standard exists. The student either meets it or does not.
This Course Was Different
Not designed to teach fundamentals.
Designed to pressure-test them. The pace is relentless. Days are long. There is very little separation between learning and application.
Students are evaluated continuously.
Not simply on what they know. But on how they lead while tired, under pressure, 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 deteriorate
ISLC assumes you already know your job. What it measures is whether others should follow you when things get hard.
Attrition Was Part of 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. Graduation is not guaranteed by attendance. It is earned through sustained performance under pressure.
"Follow Me" Is Not a Slogan
Follow Me.
It is not a slogan. It is a leadership philosophy. It is also a test.
The question is simple: when uncertainty increases, pressure rises, and nobody has all the answers — will people willingly follow you?
An infantry squad leader:
Moves first
Accepts risk
Sets the pace
Takes responsibility
Maintains standards when friction increases
ISLC exists to determine who can do that consistently. Not occasionally. Consistently.
What This Has to Do With Two Marines Moving
Two Marines Moving was built on many of the same leadership principles. Not because anyone is pretending a move is combat. And not because moving furniture is the Marine Corps. But because leadership principles remain remarkably consistent across environments.
Leadership here means:
Stepping into difficult problems
Maintaining standards under pressure
Communicating clearly
Taking ownership of outcomes
Leading from the front instead of directing from comfort
Not this.
"Go do that."
This.
"Follow me."
Lead by example. Carry your share of the load. Set the pace. Maintain the standard.
Why Veterans Recognize the Culture Quickly
Veterans often settle in quickly because many aspects of the culture feel familiar. They understand:
Standards are not personal
Attrition is part of excellence
Leadership is responsibility, not entitlement
Respect is earned through consistency
Performance matters
The environment is different. The mission is different. But the underlying principles are often familiar.
Why Civilians Thrive Here Too
Military experience is not required to succeed at Two Marines Moving. Many excellent teammates have never served. What matters is a willingness to:
Learn under pressure
Accept responsibility
Meet expectations
Lead from the front when it's your turn
Earn trust through performance
Those who do often advance quickly. Not because of favoritism. Because reliability creates opportunity.
The Recruiting Truth
If you're looking for:
Meaningful work
Clear expectations
Leadership opportunities
Industry-leading pay
Accountability applied fairly
A culture built on performance
Then Two Marines Moving may be the right place for you.
We don't promise easy.
We don't promise comfort.
We don't promise shortcuts.
We promise an opportunity to earn respect, responsibility, and advancement through performance.
The Bottom Line
Infantry Squad Leader's Course reinforced a lesson that has remained true in every environment I've worked in since.
Leadership is not a title.
Leadership is not authority.
Leadership is not rank.
Leadership is responsibility accepted.
The infantry squad leader's command remains one of the simplest and most honest leadership phrases ever spoken:
Not:
Go.
Not:
Somebody should.
Not:
Figure it out.
But:
Follow Me.
Move first.
Accept responsibility.
Set the standard.
Carry the burden.
Lead from the front.
That lesson shaped how I led Marines. And it continues to shape how we build leaders at Two Marines Moving today.
Leadership begins where excuses end. Follow Me.
Semper Fidelis,
Nicholas Edmond Baucom
Founder & Chief Executive Officer — Two Marines Moving
Questions About Your Move?