(Via Milinet-Letter To CMC...)
3 May 2000
MILINET: Letter To The Commandant of the Marine Corps
It's a little long but this is a copy of a ltr that was
submitted by a GySgt to CMC. The GySgt worked for CMC, and
during his
last visit to the area CMC asked the Marine when can he promote
him. They
worked together while assigned to the Presidential detail &
MCI.
=======================================
>
> Sir,
>
> When we met last week, you asked me why I didn't wish to
be
> promoted and about my desire to retire from the Marines.
>
> This is not the same Armed Forces that I entered 19
years
> ago. When my generation came in, President Reagan had just
come into
> office. There was an air of patriotism in the country that
you could cut
> with a knife. Service in the armed forces was not only
desirable, but in
> the 1980s, it was revered.
>
> Today's young recruit grows up in a different world with
> different values. We did not have Nintendo or MTV when we
were young. We
> had jobs after school and most of us excelled in one sport or
another. We
> could not fathom that our commander-in-chief would sleep with
someone
> besides his own wife nor could we imagine our country
accepting this.
>
> When we entered the service homosexuality was illegal
and
> not a quiet option, and we did not have to stop warrior
training so that
> we could learn to be more sensitive to the feelings of others
concerning
> this subject. You can see that times and values have changed.
>
> There are a few reasons behind my wish to depart the
Corps.
> In the list below, I have tried to address some of them:
>
> Training
>
> * When did we lose the perception that not everyone can be a
Marine?
> When I entered the service, I remember that recruit training
was far and
> away the most difficult task I had ever undertaken and on many
an
> occasion, I worried that I wouldn't make it. Talking to
today's young
> Marines here at SOI, nearly 90% expected recruit training to
be more
> difficult. Are we meeting our recruiting goals because we
allow some
> Marines to walk across the grinder that shouldn't? I am not
saying that
> attrition should be the mission, but if 25%-35% of today's
Marines are not
> completing their first enlistment, when should we weed them
out? In the
> beginning, or after 2+ years have been invested in them?
Remember......a
> rock painted gold is still a rock.
>
> * The Crucible. Unlike some of my peers I believe there is a
place
> for it, but not in recruit training. Boot camp should be
designed to
> produce a basically-trained Marine schooled in the basics of
drill,
> marksmanship, history, EST subjects, physical fitness,
customs/courtesies,
> and discipline. When the Marines transition to either MCT or
ITB, the
> Crucible should come into play. This is where teamwork is
fostered.
>
> * Recruit training should never be tailored for the slowest or
weakest
> man. If a recruit can't hang, there are other branches of the
armed
> forces who are struggling to fill their ranks and are not
meeting their
> current recruiting goals.
>
> * During a training cycle at SOI west, we actually had to stop
a
> company of infantry Marines from training on a live fire range
so that
> some civilians from an environmental group could conduct a
survey on
> butterfly migration could be done. This action is still
occurring as I
> write this letter.
>
> * Why do we still allow Marines to PET with their individual
weapon?
> No one will ever convince me that shooting every other year
will keep a
> Marine proficient with his weapon. Without the quick and
accurate ability
> to put steel on target, all the latest in kevlar helmets and
body armor
> will only prolong the inevitable outcome - we will send too
many of our
> mothers' children home in body bags! To save money on ammo
for this
> reason is irresponsible.
>
> * Allowing the same Marines to go TAD for sports or shooting
> competition. Once is fine and I'm sure a great learning
experience.
> Would the parent commands of these Marines not be better
served by those
> same Marines teaching their craft instead of trying to win
more trophies?
> And how fair is it for the Marines that stay in their billet
MOS to have
> to compete with pro-shooters and wrestlers for promotions?
>
> * How is it that we can receive privates here that are grossly
> overweight? This puzzles me when only 10-12 days earlier they
graduated
> recruit training. (SOI west).
>
>
>
> * Why do we have different standards for the PFT due to one's
age? The
> last time I checked, this was the profession of arms. Fatigue
in battle
> does not recognize one's age. Again, if someone can't meet
the standard,
> Wal-Mart is looking for qualified applicants and one doesn't
even have to
> take a physical.
>
> Leadership
>
> * How is it that a SNCO who has twice failed weight control
must be
> held at his command because he is now pending a PEB board?
>
> * Why is it that SNCOs still have to re-enlist? Why not issue
upon
> promotion to staff sergeants an "indefinite" I.D. card? Then
if he is
> passed over twice, you may then issue a set of job listings
and send him
> home. This will allow our career planners to deal with the
young NCOs we
> need to retain.
>
> * On the aspect of junior level discipline, having an NCO
write a page
> 11 entry, a 6105, or draft a charge sheet on a Marine as the
standard
> practice for enforcing discipline is not the way it should be.
I do
> believe that there is a place for leaders to use incentive PT
as a tool.
> Telling a Marine to drop and give me 20 reinforces instant
obedience to
> orders. Is there a chance a leader could go overboard? Of
course, but
> don't try to tell me just because we say don't do it that will
stop
> someone who doesn't follow regulations to begin with.
>
> * We say we have a zero tolerance for drug use, yet I still
see
> Marines in my Corps whom I know have popped on a drug test.
If this
> substandard Marine pops positive on a drug test he should be
sent home on
> appellate leave within 5 working days at no cost to the
government.
> Period! We can drop him off at the closest gate with all his
non-military
> belongings.
>
> * Alcohol. When I came in it was possible for 18-20 year old
Marines
> to grab a beer at the E-club. For reasons above my level this
practice
> was stopped. This action then sent our young men out to
Mexico to get
> liquored up. Hell, out here it is easier for a 20 year old
corporal to
> purchase illegal drugs on the streets than it is to buy a
six-pack of Bud
> at Circle-K. I believe that again with proper supervision we
could bring
> this practice back. If we can ask a 20 year old NCO to lead a
squad of
> Marines in combat I think we can trust him to have a beer.
>
> * The issuing of orders to a Marine for special duty who does
not want
> to go, and disapproving a request from a Marine who wants to.
Whom do you
> think would do a better job?
>
> * Having one of my NCOs tell me he can't be a Drill Instructor
right
> now because there are too many Infantrymen currently at the
depot.
>
> * Why not put a Marine Gunner as the Weapons Company XO? Who
is
> better trained for that billet? And he would not be in line
for succession
> of command over commissioned officers.
>
> Morale
>
> * I don't understand why a SNCO on a UDP float loses all his
comrats,
> and gets a meal card, while a 2nd Lt. in the same platoon
receives full
> per diem on that float.
>
> * Our practice of giving out ribbons to Marines who simply did
their
> jobs. (Recruiter, Drill Instructor, Marine Security Guard).
Don't these
> marines already receive consideration for accelerated
promotion, and in
> some cases special pay?
>
> * Why do we still allow marines on their first enlistment to
marry?
> We do not allow career NCOs to go on MSG duty married. I
would rather
> deploy at 90% with single marines than 100% with 45% of them
married.
> (Ask most Victor unit 1st Sergeants).
>
> * Our policy of having to recognize and pay for the
illegitimate
> children of our Marines.
>
> * Do not allow Marines above the rank of GySgt to live in
government
> quarters. They earn enough to live in the community. If we
are going to
> allow junior marines to marry, let's give them adequate
housing and get
> them and their families on base.
>
> * How is it that the Army can give out $50,000 for college and
we
> don't? Aren't we all the same DOD?
>
> * Why can an E-5 in the Navy go all the way to 20 years?
>
> Misc.
>
> * Move the 31st MEU to Hawaii. This would allow for real
workups.
> Instead of ground units in California, the command unit on
Okinawa, and
> ships in mainland Japan, all elements would then be
collocated.
>
> * Put 5th Marines back in the float schedule and not relegate
them to
> the role of the West Coast Okinawa Regiment.
>
> * During the past couple of years, I have seen some of the
finest
> young captains and majors walk away from our Corps. The
present word being
> passed around out on the street is that there is no officer
attrition
> problem. I find that line hard to swallow with the caliber of
Marines I
> see seeking gainful employment on the outside. The current
perception is
> that if you can fog a mirror you will augment. This problem
must be
> addressed ASAP!
>
> * On the SNCO side, this year in our battalion we had 4
gunnery
> sergeants in zone this year for the 1st time for promotion.
None of them
> had ever had any bad paper, and were considered to be stellar
performers,
> yet all of them submitted letters to the board for
non-consideration.
>
> Sir,
>
> I cannot speak as to why these other fine men wish to
leave
> but it cannot just be us. This was probably the single most
difficult
> decision I had ever faced. My bride and I talked about it in
great detail
> and although she did not agree with my decision, she did
support me in my
> choice.
>
> We are coming up on hard times for our corps. The
> operational tempo is the highest it's ever been, and
deployments are
> longer. The job market on the outside is the best it's ever
been in my
> life. It will be ever more difficult to retain quality
Marines to lead
> the Corps into the 21st century.
>
> While serving in my beloved Corps, the finest men I have
> ever known and respected have worn the Eagle, Globe, and
Anchor. I have
> cherished my time in the Marine Corps and would not change a
thing that
> has happened. I have enjoyed all that I have done and
accomplished, and I
> believe that I am a finer man for it.
>
> It is my opinion that the senior leadership of our Corps
> must convey to the elected leadership of this great country
that the
> Marines were created for one reason only. War. We are not
here to
> provide skills training for careers on the outside and we damn
well better
> be funded and trained for it before its to late!
>
> These young men of our Corps joined the Marine Corps
for a
> challenge and discipline in their lives. We owe them that.
We owe our
> country nothing less.
>
>
> Semper Fi,
|
