Responsibility is a subject that touches all spectrums of life. From simply knowing your food reserves by opening the refrigerator, to knowing exactly how much ammunition a military convoy has, down to each individual cartridge. When we know the situation and hold each person accountable for their actions in the situation, it is the concept of responsibility that is at its core. If we do not hold each other accountable for our every action and choice, we will never be able to correct problems and concerns, which will cause us to fail as a whole, because the smallest individual action can result in the the most serious consequences. In this essay, I will show how important responsibility is in the daily life of a United States Marine. I will do this by presenting the classic definition of responsibility, then dissecting it and defining it in my own words. I will then show you how the military practices accountability in everything it does; by applying a system similar to that of checks and balances. I will relate this to the incident that occurred at 29 Palms, California on August 31, 1988, where the lack of accountability of all Marines on base ultimately led to the negligent death of one Marine and the ruined careers of those who were in charge of him. Finally, I will touch on the base level of the Marine Corps: the life of each Marine and how he can, and to some extent naturally does, apply accountability to his every action, whether on duty or outside. The legal or regulatory duty imposed on an agent or other person to keep an accurate record of property, documents, or funds. The person with this obligation may or may not have actual possession of the...... middle of paper ....... Start saving money because you know your lack of finances, start allocating your funds families needs and not your own needs. In this same aspect, we Marines must apply responsibility in everything we do in the Marine Corps and in our daily lives. Accountability is a topic that covers everything from knowing how many diapers the baby has left to knowing how many AT-4 rocket launchers are in the platoon, who owns them, and how experienced they are in their use. If you hold yourself accountable for your actions, your manager will not have to, because you already know the proper steps to correct your problem and report any changes to keep the unit operating, and the Body capable of fulfilling its mission. Works Cited Oxford Dictionary of the American Army Webster's Unabridged Dictionary