Your 2024 Presidential Election Thread

[The Quartermaster]

I'm wondering if it's because the USMC is much fewer in numbers that they are pickier at who makes NCO ranks because it has to be someone they all want as an NCO and to retain them. Does the USMC have a retention control point and what are the requisites for promotions? Time in service/time in grade? Slots opening up finally?

 

[The Quartermaster]

And another question but on a subject going back to this thread topic of interest:

Do y'all think that he will actually drain the swamp this time? Like as in, seriously get rid of the partisans, DEI soup sandwich nutbags of uselessness, in the feds at every branches of government? It's been more than plainly obvious that everything from FEMA, DOJ, to the mil needs to give cunts the boot, or at least a reeducation that their allegiances are to this nation and it's citizens, and not a political party or a politician from said political party.

 

[AWP]

And another question but on a subject going back to this thread topic of interest:

Do y'all think that he will actually drain the swamp this time? Like as in, seriously get rid of the partisans, DEI soup sandwich nutbags of uselessness, in the feds at every branches of government? It's been more than plainly obvious that everything from FEMA, DOJ, to the mil needs to give cunts the boot, or at least a reeducation that their allegiances are to this nation and it's citizens, and not a political party or a politician from said political party.

Drain it? No. That's wildly optimistic. Skim some of the scum off the top and maybe get some fresh water flowing? Yes.

I don't think Trump's legacy will be solving the problem, his legacy will be "prepping the battlefield" for future success. I question if Vance is that instrument and would rather have seen another outsider brought in as VP, but I'm not in charge this week.

Our problems took generations and decades to create. 4 years will not be enough time to turn the ship around, but it is enough time to get us moving in that direction. People, including some on this board, want to "burn it all down", but that will cause more problems. Generational changes suddenly reversed in a short period cause war and economic collapse. That isn't in anyone's best interests except for the people who will benefit from the chaos. That isn't anyone on this board.

Get rid of the craptastic leadership at Federal agencies (including the DoD), abolish DEI, and set the conditions for real change. Trump can do that, but he isn't draining the swamp.

 

[amlove21]

Whatever the rank, it seems that all systems are working rather well.

Except the Air Force. The AF develops leaders as well as Taco Bell and tequila generate constipation.

Well in their defense they can't define the word "leader".

This isn't a joke- our best leaders get out at the 04/E7 break point- because they're smart, and that line of demarcation is where the USAF goes full freaking potato.

 

[Eyes]

Used to be that one could receive a CIB if their secondary MOS was 11 series. Even 03xx Marines coming over to the Guard would have that converted to 11B as a secondary MOS. This is how you had a bunch of fobbits (including SOF support guys) sporting CIBs from a few rockets before CIB eligibility was tightened up. The 76th Brigade out of Indiana, plus other states, ran a Guard-approved 11B course in country outside of Kabul for a bit. They had a pharmacy tech with a CIB because he completed the course, was awarded the secondary MOS, and then took a few 107's and "earned" the CIB. This was around 2005.

Seen it.

 

[Kraut783]

Seen it.

Can confirm...happened in 2002 with USAR...and some AD.

 

[Teufel]

I'm wondering if it's because the USMC is much fewer in numbers that they are pickier at who makes NCO ranks because it has to be someone they all want as an NCO and to retain them. Does the USMC have a retention control point and what are the requisites for promotions? Time in service/time in grade? Slots opening up finally?

Yes to all. It’s much cheaper to limit and slow promotions for both officers and enlisted. That’s why we have E5 squad leaders and E6 platoon sergeants that probably have been in the Marine Corps for around as long as their Army counterparts of a higher grade. They are trying to adjust it now but it was taking Marines 4 years or more to pick up E4 and I think 8 plus to pick up E5. It also depended on available boat spaces. Assaultmen, for example, were famously slow to promote as seen in Terminal Lance. This was in the infantry. It was faster in other, more technical MOSes.

 

[Teufel]

Commanders also used to be able to deny a Marine promotion if they didn’t think they were ready.

 

[ThunderHorse]

Yes to all. It’s much cheaper to limit and slow promotions for both officers and enlisted. That’s why we have E5 squad leaders and E6 platoon sergeants that probably have been in the Marine Corps for around as long as their Army counterparts of a higher grade. They are trying to adjust it now but it was taking Marines 4 years or more to pick up E4 and I think 8 plus to pick up E5. It also depended on available boat spaces. Assaultmen, for example, were famously slow to promote as seen in Terminal Lance. This was in the infantry. It was faster in other, more technical MOSes.

Is this why you guys do career designations? Every time I hear about that I get confused. However, when I was a PL my MTOE was for NCOs was like: 1xSFC (Platoon Sergeant), 3xSSG (Section Sergeant), 3xSGT (Dismount Team Leader). The Army only has corporals really to fill holes, it does not use them like the Marine Corps and PFCs did not have the same type of authority as a Lance Cooly. I think that comes from how many dudes culturally that are able to leave bootcamp as an E-3 in the Army.

Now what did I have? 1 SFC, 1, SSG, 2 SGTs, 2 CPLs. One of my corporals was a total bag of ass, but my CO loved that dude. At one point I had only 3 SGTs running sections, no issues with that they were fine. My Senior Scout (1st Section Leader) was probably the best Senior Scout in the squadron but points for 19D SSG at that time were cray cray.

Basic Leader Course is about the same length as the Marine Corporal's course, except BLC seems to be a joke. Yet there are dudes that fail the packing list on day one, so there is that. BLC is for Sergeants. But the Corps has a Sergeant's course that is longer than BLC. It is also meant to be a resident course. When I was at Bliss they had a NCOA that ran BLC, so my guys literally never left post. But I think how you guys do NCO PME is way more professional for E-4/E-5. I think it normalizes a whole lot at the Staff Sergeant level, but the PME foundation you guys give starting at even Lance Corporal drives a different culture across the fleet.

 

[The Quartermaster]

So they're calling it BLC for E-5's is the Army these days? It was PLDC when I had done it, and over the course of GWOT was low keyed changed to WLC. All of this name changing was retarded. At E-5 nothing has changed enough to warrant name changes and isn't MOS dependent until E-6 and onwards.

 

[ThunderHorse]

So they're calling it BLC for E-5's is the Army these days? It was PLDC when I had done it, and over the course of GWOT was low keyed changed to WLC. All of this name changing was retarded. At E-5 nothing has changed enough to warrant name changes and isn't MOS dependent until E-6 and onwards.

All I know is I was at Knox and we were going over slots for WLC in October 2013 and when I was at Bliss a few months later it was BLC...it would be great if the Army stopped changing names of things for at least a half minute.

 

[Teufel]

Is this why you guys do career designations? Every time I hear about that I get confused. However, when I was a PL my MTOE was for NCOs was like: 1xSFC (Platoon Sergeant), 3xSSG (Section Sergeant), 3xSGT (Dismount Team Leader). The Army only has corporals really to fill holes, it does not use them like the Marine Corps and PFCs did not have the same type of authority as a Lance Cooly. I think that comes from how many dudes culturally that are able to leave bootcamp as an E-3 in the Army.

Now what did I have? 1 SFC, 1, SSG, 2 SGTs, 2 CPLs. One of my corporals was a total bag of ass, but my CO loved that dude. At one point I had only 3 SGTs running sections, no issues with that they were fine. My Senior Scout (1st Section Leader) was probably the best Senior Scout in the squadron but points for 19D SSG at that time were cray cray.

Basic Leader Course is about the same length as the Marine Corporal's course, except BLC seems to be a joke. Yet there are dudes that fail the packing list on day one, so there is that. BLC is for Sergeants. But the Corps has a Sergeant's course that is longer than BLC. It is also meant to be a resident course. When I was at Bliss they had a NCOA that ran BLC, so my guys literally never left post. But I think how you guys do NCO PME is way more professional for E-4/E-5. I think it normalizes a whole lot at the Staff Sergeant level, but the PME foundation you guys give starting at even Lance Corporal drives a different culture across the fleet.

Yes. Career designation is a means to remove the lower rung of performers on a bell curve.

 

[ThunderHorse]

So apparently the Republican Party in Congress can't get the eff out of it's own way with the speaker vote. How the hell do you at least not tie the Democrat? What are we doing?

 

[R.Caerbannog]

So apparently the Republican Party in Congress can't get the eff out of it's own way with the speaker vote. How the hell do you at least not tie the Democrat? What are we doing?

Simple, we have a bunch of controlled opposition. Congressman Massie from Kentucky called it, in that we have too many people who are compromised within our own party.

 

[Devildoc]

Is that like an E-2 or E-3 in Navy rank?

The Navy enlisted rank structure is a nightmare to navigate. That is E5, or petty officer second class. So you can call the sailor 'petty officer,' or by his/ her designator (i.e., HM2 for corpsman, PN1 for personnel man first class, etc).

In the Navy, you start taking written tests at E4 within your designation for promotion, and then like everyone else, you get certain points for awards, degrees, certifications, etc.

Some of the best Marine leaders I've seen have been E3/E4 team leaders/squad leaders. It takes the Navy about the same amount of time to make rank than it does in the Marines.

 

[AWP]

The Navy enlisted rank structure is a nightmare to navigate. That is E5, or petty officer second class. So you can call the sailor 'petty officer,' or by his/ her designator (i.e., HM2 for corpsman, PN1 for personnel man first class, etc).

In the Navy, you start taking written tests at E4 within your designation for promotion, and then like everyone else, you get certain points for awards, degrees, certifications, etc.

Some of the best Marine leaders I've seen have been E3/E4 team leaders/squad leaders. It takes the Navy about the same amount of time to make rank than it does in the Marines.

Does the NEC enter into promotion math?

 

[Devildoc]

Does the NEC enter into promotion math?

It does. Lesser-manned NECs will typically promote faster. Same with lesser-manned designators. Intelligence Specialist (IS), the crypto guys, nukes, some others, tend to move quickly.

HM is the biggest designator and a lot of NECs are overmanned and promote very slowly, some guys retiring at E5 or E6.

The Navy has always been enthusiastic about lateral transfers into those rates and NECs.

Edited to add, when I joined I had a BA in political science and 2 1/2 years of Russian. They offered a lat transfer and instant promotion to E6 after Intel school. I did not do it of course, but always wondered how my career trajectory might have been if I had.

 

[ThunderHorse]

What are Jill and Doug doing in their last days?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1875215089545990250

Ok Block Spirit, fine, now they're bankrupt.

Block US Steel? Could go straight into bankruptcy, but US Steel is vital to our national security so we could like order A LOT more ships or something. Or maybe broker a different deal, like maybe Musk or Bezos purchase it. If Buffet stayed away from it you know their underlying business is effed because Chinese Steel is beyond cheap and affecting our market.

ETA: what in the actual eff?

Outrage as Biden set to award Hillary Clinton, George Soros with Presidential Medal of Freedom

ETA2: Make it make sense.

Lionel Messi awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom | MLSSoccer.com