It would be more formalized training using real instructors. We had a Battalion Machine Gunner course that we would send people to but not all. Everyone else got hip pocket classes and trigger time as it became available on ranges.
Get Rid of the Marine Corps???
- Thread starter Marauder06
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It would be more formalized training using real instructors. We had a Battalion Machine Gunner course that we would send people to but not all. Everyone else got hip pocket classes and trigger time as it became available on ranges.
We all start out as 343 Riflemen, then go and do heavy weapons/snipers/ recon/ Regimental sigs, Assault Pioneers/ Mortars a year or two down the line. I reckon the Kiwis and the Brits are the same.
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It won't happen. This want sais before Iraq 2003 and the drive to Bagdad stopped that talk.
busyworks
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Can confirm. Was that Data Geek.
Could you provide some insight on why?
It has to do with our structure. We are a small service and only have so much senior officer and staff NCO structure. It’s a numbers game. We need lots of Lance Corporals but far less Gunnys. Same for the officers. Lots of room for Lieutenants, not so much for Colonels. We board our young officers to make sure we are only retaining our best, or at a minimum dropping our worst. Same for our junior enlisted as they compete to promote into the Staff NCO ranks.
We also promote slower than most(mos dependant). And with that new policy if you arent reenlisting you can go pound sand on getting promoted if you dont have 2+ years left on contract/or submit a letter of intent to reenlist to the promotion board.
We're crushing the retention game.
Yep. It all comes down to money. Payroll is the biggest chunk of the Marine Corps budget. We save money by assigning Sergeants to be a squad leader instead of a Staff Sergeant like the Army does for example. Those two squad leaders may have different ranks, but probably have similar time in service.
There is a lot of truth in that statement. I think that comes from being so small and having a lot to accomplish with those numbers. Much of it is based on necessity.
We can graduate boot camp as an E-3 with certain conditions such as being an Eagle Scout, having a degree or doing well in boot camp. Is it true the Army will allow you to graduate as an E-4?
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Yeah I’ve asked about that here too. The Army had weird (to me) rank structures. An Army E4 Specialist is not considered and NCO, while and Army E4 Corporal is.
So my question to the Army guys, can a specialist be promoted to E5 Sgt before holding the title of Corporal?
And how does a specialist become a Corporal?
Devildoc
Verified Military
I went in the Navy as an E4, was a college graduate already and actually had to sign a document saying that they didn't coerce me into enlisting as opposed to getting a commission.
I was a real hit amongst the other HM3s, who had done it the right way and who had been in for 3 years or more.
They don’t allow this anymore unfortunately, E-3 is as high as you can go initially.
Devildoc
Verified Military
Yeah, this was mid-90s. As a recall, Eagle scout, and certain ranks in the sea cadets or civil air patrol could get you E3, college graduate in certain NECs would get you E4.
I signed up wanting a HM contract with field med school in the contract, at first they told me no. The army recruiter across the hall said that if I wanted medic guaranteed he would do it, and within the hour the Navy had it in the contract. The Navy recruiter said he couldn't remember when anyone came in specifically asking for a contract to be assigned to the Marines lol.
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I was an Eagle Scout, CAP leadership, and had ~1.5 semesters worth of college when I enlisted. I was supposed to graduate bootcamp as an E-3.
Spoiler warning, my recruiter fucked me. I graduated as Private.
You can come in as an E4 with a college degree IIRC
You can become a SGT without being a CPL.
CPL used to be much more common, but is basically non-existent outside of combat arms branches now.
Usually, two things have to happen for someone to become a CPL.
A SPC passes the promotion board but doesn't meet points to promote, and his/her unit is short an E5 SGT.
Congrats, you're now a NCO without the pay.
Devildoc
Verified Military
I was an Eagle Scout, CAP leadership, and had ~1.5 semesters worth of college when I enlisted. I was supposed to graduate bootcamp as an E-3.
Spoiler warning, my recruiter fucked me. I graduated as Private.
Fucked by a recruiter. This is my shocked face.
I didn't have Eagle (Star), and I was a cadet captain in CAP. My degree was the thing that did it. They tried making me look into nuke (this was actually before I took the ASVAB...I was like, you know I had a tutor for geometry and algebra 2, right??) and intelligence (BA poli sci, natural choice). But I wanted HM, and a contract for FMSS and the Corps.
