Let Marines be Marines: retaining servicemen

[Devildoc]

Although the article speaks specifically to the Marine Corps and its' problem retaining talent, many of the issues are well-known to all of us. Probably the biggest reason I got out when I did was because of the increased mandatory social engineering training and decrease of training specific to my job. While more money is always good, the pay was like 4th on my list of reasons for leaving.

Let Marines Be Marines | U.S. Naval Institute

 

[Ooh-Rah]

the pay was like 4th on my list of reasons for leaving.

Agreed. I absolutely loved the Corps, and being a Marine. I traveled, deployed to Iraq, and spent nearly my whole enlistment in Okinawa. (this was during the early 90's and I agree with whomever it was on the forum that described Okinawa as Animal House, every day).

Then Clinton took office. I watched Staff-NCO's who had planned to make a career out of the Corps be told their services were no longer needed. The Corps was their life, and with the swipe of a pen, it was over. Some of them openly cried. That turned me into a VERY bitter Corporal and I was gone.

Man do I wish a site like that had existed back then, I was living in a bubble and had no other perspective to see.

 

[Gunz]

I got out when I did because of a number of factors.

1. Lingering injuries that prevented me from maintaining peak infantry performance levels without undue pain.
2. Post-Vietnam racial unrest and drug abuse in the ranks.
3. And too much downtime in garrison.

Reason 3 was the worst...because of boredom. Even when I had pain, I was never happier than when we were out on FXs or deployed or running through training cycles, doing amphib assaults, vertical envelopment exercises or just getting range time. And as a squad leader it was hard for me to keep my guys in line when a good part of their time was spent raking pine needles in the company area or field-daying the squad bay and head for inspections.

Fuck dat. You want stone-cold killers you need to keep them busy with tasks that hone their infantry skills...and if they're not deployed, get them out humping the boonies and plenty of live-fire range time.

 

[Devildoc]

I got out when I did because of a number of factors.

1. Lingering injuries that prevented me from maintaining peak infantry performance levels without undue pain.
2. Post-Vietnam racial unrest and drug abuse in the ranks.
3. And too much downtime in garrison.

Reason 3 was the worst...because of boredom. Even when I had pain, I was never happier than when we were out on FXs or deployed or running through training cycles, doing amphib assaults, vertical envelopment exercises or just getting range time. And as a squad leader it was hard for me to keep my guys in line when a good part of their time was spent raking pine needles in the company area or field-daying the squad bay and head for inspections.

Fuck dat. You want stone-cold killers you need to keep them busy with tasks that hone their infantry skills...and if they're not deployed, get them out humping the boonies and plenty of live-fire range time.

Reason 3, that's what the article said: Marines want to be Marines, and they (presumably the same in every service) want to train for what they do.

 

[Grunt]

Reason 3, that's what the article said: Marines want to be Marines, and they (presumably the same in every service) want to train for what they do.

Yep...there is a reason that we sign a contract stating what it is that we want to do while serving our country.

I enjoy some downtime to play hard after we worked hard. But, we were never so disgruntled as we were when we were left to ourselves to waste time.

A group of grunts WILL find things to do when things get that slow....

 

[Gunz]

They'll find things to do: alcohol, drugs, rat-racing, bar & barracks fights, anything to satisfy the need for the rush.

Bottom line is, the military has to learn to cut down on the petty bullshit, particularly among combat arms units. Use em or lose em.

 

[ThunderHorse]

Bottom line is, the military has to learn to cut down on the petty bullshit, particularly among combat arms units. Use em or lose em.

Sadly, petty bullshit seems to be increasing. Ugh.

 

[Gunz]

A group of grunts WILL find things to do when things get that slow....

 

[Ooh-Rah]

A group of grunts WILL find things to do when things get that slow....

I may or may not be the guy in the middle! LOL

 

[Devildoc]

A group of grunts WILL find things to do when things get that slow....

...and invariably they find their way to ol' Doc

 

[Grunt]

...and invariably they find their way to ol' Doc

Isn't that the truth!

 

[BloodStripe]

And yet the Corps wants to do away with the 0351 MOS for more cyber jobs. Here's an idea, and one that many people dont agree with but, make the Marines strictly an infantry force and delegate or task everything else back to the Navy.

 

[Devildoc]

And yet the Corps wants to do away with the 0351 MOS for more cyber jobs. Here's an idea, and one that many people dont agree with but, make the Marines strictly an infantry force and delegate or task everything else back to the Navy.

All the ones I know usually don't get a chance to do their job and get co-opted into other jobs anyway. But I think you have a good point in that a lot of non marine jobs can be deferred elsewhere.

 

[Gunz]

I may or may not be the guy in the middle! LOL

View attachment 20815

At least you're not in your pirate costume.

 

[ThunderHorse]

Sort of fits the theme of this thread: The war on military culture

 

[Teufel]

And yet the Corps wants to do away with the 0351 MOS for more cyber jobs. Here's an idea, and one that many people dont agree with but, make the Marines strictly an infantry force and delegate or task everything else back to the Navy.

This flies solidly in the face of the MAGTF concept. Marines support Marines aside from Navy Corpsman, who are indoctrinated into our cult shortly after receiving orders, and Chaplains. We complain about insufficient support as it is, can you imagine how a non organic unit would treat us?

An infantry platoon is better served with light anti tank weapons and engineers than 0351s. It’s a good move.

Cyber is the future and we will see it at the tactical level eventually. We need to build it today though, if we want it tomorrow.

 

[BloodStripe]

And that is why many people dont like the idea of an infantry only force.

 

[Teufel]

And that is why many people dont like the idea of an infantry only force.

Additionally, an all infantry Marine Corps would almost certainly be absorbed into the Army.

 

[CDG]

A rebuttal piece has been posted by Task and Purpose. I could not disagree more with the authors ridiculous assertions. He essentially tries to paint the entire USMC as sex offenders and out of control maniacs.

The Problem With ‘Let Marines Be Marines’

 

[Ooh-Rah]

A rebuttal piece has been posted by Task and Purpose. I could not disagree more with the authors ridiculous assertions. He essentially tries to paint the entire USMC as sex offenders and out of control maniacs.

The Problem With ‘Let Marines Be Marines’

Agree.

I saw that article earlier and it pissed me off.