I would like to post something that has me rather upset concerning my last deployment to Iraq.

The SNCO's in my company, as well as the other companies in my squadron, were directed to submit meritorious promotion packages for our respective Marines. That's all well and good if the Marine deserves to be meritoriously promoted. This was not the case. If the Marine met the basic requirements on paper, we were "told" we had to submit a package on them, even if we felt the Marine didn’t deserve to be meritoriously promoted. We (the SNCO's) had no say in it if we felt otherwise, if they met the basic qualifications we had to submit a package, per order of the Sergeant Major.

This is completely wrong. The only purpose this serves is to make a weaker NCO rank by promoting Marines who are not ready for the next rank.

I'm not in anymore, but do their pro-con marks and counseling statments reflect your seemingly no-go's?

and down the Corps tumbles, despite the better intentions of the good SNCOs

There are ways to make your lack of enthusiasm for the Marine known. Write up the package as "recommended, with hesitation" or "recommended, though he will require extensive supervision as a junior NCO" or some other bullcrap.

Sgt Iwo - OUT

quote:

per order of the Sergeant Major

Please SSgt! You mean to tell me you and every other SNCO didn't question your SgtMaj?

Semper Fi

John

During the Vietnam War many SNCO's were promoted to O-1 because those out of OCS were all being sent to the war. These promotions were temporary.
They must of had to make up a new pay scale. I don't think there was a paygrade 0-1 over 20 years. They probably got a little extra at retirement also.
Most were Ok, but a few became real azzholes. I ran into one of the latter at Lakehurst NAS.

AS the SgtMjr said put them in even if you don't think they are deserving. It did not say like some suggested that you had to recommend them just submit them. Submit them and add a note to the file saying this Marine in your opinion is not ready. The CO will hear you.....

Had we not had meritorious promotions in Vietnam we would have run out of NCO's within the first 30 days of a 90 day OP.
India Co. 3/26