So. Thus ends my military career.

[Divinus Arma]

Some of you heard me talking about this and may actually care.

For promotions from Sergeant, the Marine Corps has three zones:

The Above zone: You were in the zone before and got passed over cause you suck.

The Zone: You are in the perfect range of dates and if you are not a turd then you shall be promoted.

The Below Zone: Next year you will be in the Zone. You can be promoted if you kick ass and take names and they happen to look this deep for qualified people.

I was in the below zone. Those of you that know me here, also know that I certainly kick ass and take names. Unfortunatley, the Corps did not look at ANYONE in the below zone for my M.O.S.

Which means I did not get promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Funny thing. The bastards are now offering me a commission to Lieutenant because of my education. And I go up for an NCO of the quarter board tomorrow morning (in... what, six hours? I can't sleep).


Oh well. I bid the Marine Corps farewell. It has been an illustrious and magnificent seven years. I get out this next summer.

I am sad but hopeful.

Is anybody in a position to recommend me for a job? I have an impressive resume. I'll move anywhere in the world if the price is right!

[English assassin]

I don't really understand the details or what your options are from here, but let me be the first to say "bad luck". Can you go for the promotion board again, or is your attitude, the corps had their chance with me and they blew it?

I can respect that. You have to have self respect.

Good luck on your next move.

[Geoffrey S]

Indeed, best of luck in future!

[Seamus Fermanagh]

D.A.:

Thank you for your service.

Condolences on this year's list not being long enough to include you. I have known many good service persons who met the same obstacles. Since you seem un-thrilled by turning Mustang, I wish you success in transitioning to Civvie life.

What area of expertise are you best set up for? The VA tidewater is pretty conducive to post military folks so....

Seamus

[Redleg]

Some of you heard me talking about this and may actually care.

For promotions from Sergeant, the Marine Corps has three zones:

The Above zone: You were in the zone before and got passed over cause you suck.

The Zone: You are in the perfect range of dates and if you are not a turd then you shall be promoted.

The Below Zone: Next year you will be in the Zone. You can be promoted if you kick ass and take names and they happen to look this deep for qualified people.

I was in the below zone. Those of you that know me here, also know that I certainly kick ass and take names. Unfortunatley, the Corps did not look at ANYONE in the below zone for my M.O.S.

Which means I did not get promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Funny thing. The bastards are now offering me a commission to Lieutenant because of my education. And I go up for an NCO of the quarter board tomorrow morning (in... what, six hours? I can't sleep).


Oh well. I bid the Marine Corps farewell. It has been an illustrious and magnificent seven years. I get out this next summer.

I am sad but hopeful.

Is anybody in a position to recommend me for a job? I have an impressive resume. I'll move anywhere in the world if the price is right!

Dallas is looking for police officers - however the pay is not that great and the hours are long from what I hear in the news. And the Secert Service is always hiring - and from what you have stated - you already have many of the qualifications for the job. Since the Secert Service took a buddy of mine into their organization that was prior military without any real experience - they just might take you to.

My friend does counterfiet investigations.

[Don Corleone]

You know what, never mind. I understand a big mouth and a good set of kneepads are a requirement for the job. You probably wouldn't be interested.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

A sad day for the Marines.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

Bad luck, sorry to hear about that man. Good luck, may I suggest police work? The pay sucks but it's a relativly good job anyway, plus it's a cool job to have.

Though, if I was in your situation (and I am probably totally off though) I'd accept the Lt. Commission. It's not logical, but still, it'll keep you in the Corps.

Either way, good luck, if you need help finding somthing in the Tristate area or Philly, gimme a PM I'll look around.

[Devastatin Dave]

Is anybody in a position to recommend me for a job? I have an impressive resume. I'll move anywhere in the world if the price is right!

I work for the National Geospacial Intelligence Agency here in St Louis, if you have the clearence, I can get you a great job. Send me a PM and we'll talk off line.

[Del Arroyo]

I work for the National Geospacial Intelligence Agency here in St Louis, if you have the clearence, I can get you a great job. Send me a PM and we'll talk off line.

Hey, one of my sister's friends dad's works for them I think, Mr. Boever (Baver?) ?

At any rate Divinus, if I were you I wouldn't be too mad-- I mean, regardless of what the Corps did it sounds like you were kind of ready to be out anyway. And that's nobody's fault.

If you have a college degree then teaching English abroad would be one option, if you have the right attitude for it. You could go pretty much anywhere in the world outside of the EU-- Asian destinations tend to be the best paying, and tend not to require specific training or experience.

An EFL certification takes about a month and tends to be quite useful even if it's not required for a job-- if you want more information, I can tell you about some good schools.

Whatever you end up in, good luck!

DA

[The_Doctor]

You could become a bodyguard. My uncle employed (not if he still does) ex-SAS men to protect him when he was in Albania.

Or you could be a mercenary.

Or write a military novel.

[Divinus Arma]

Goofball, EDIT: Reworded: I found your "spoiled little kid" comment to be ignorant of my situation. I have editted my post to give you the benefit of the doubt that you did not mean to be insulting, though offense was taken. Perhaps I simply did not communicate my point of view.

I am good. Damn Good. I won't list my credentials in this forum again (since I have already done so), but I am the best Sergeant in my Battalion. Period. No one even comes close.

The fact is, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) does all the promotions to Staff once a year. My immediate command has little, if any, say in the matter.

I made a decision prior to the board that if I am selected, then I will consider making the move to the officer ranks.

In my opinion, it only makes sense to do that if you are a SSgt first. Sure, I can do it now as a Sergeant. But going up as a Staff Non-Commissioned Officer gives me enormous credibility with the ranks once I am a lieutenant. There really is that much of a leap in respect from Sgt to SSgt.

The board will not come around until next year, which puts me a year behind the pack for future promotions. Also, my second enlistment runs out before that second board.

It just makes more sense to leave the active-duty Marine Corps. I may stay in a reserve component, but now it is time to look outside for brighter opportunities. I was only half kidding about needing a job. I thank all of you for your kind suggestions and words of wisdom.

EDIT: Comment removed. Pointless.


On another note, I just got awarded Company NCO of the Quarter today. No one even wanted to compete against me for the honor. The command just gave it to me. blah. Kind of funny, actually.

The Marine Corps has been great. I hope no one thinks I am bitching. I loved every minute of it. From the day I was screamed at and did a zillion push-ups to the day the tide turned and I was the one doing the yelling.

It's just time to take my absolute awesomeness elsewhere, that's all.

[Del Arroyo]

Wow, and so humble, too!

[Goofball]

Some of you heard me talking about this and may actually care.

For promotions from Sergeant, the Marine Corps has three zones:

The Above zone: You were in the zone before and got passed over cause you suck.

The Zone: You are in the perfect range of dates and if you are not a turd then you shall be promoted.

The Below Zone: Next year you will be in the Zone. You can be promoted if you kick ass and take names and they happen to look this deep for qualified people.

I was in the below zone. Those of you that know me here, also know that I certainly kick ass and take names. Unfortunatley, the Corps did not look at ANYONE in the below zone for my M.O.S.

Which means I did not get promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Funny thing. The bastards are now offering me a commission to Lieutenant because of my education. And I go up for an NCO of the quarter board tomorrow morning (in... what, six hours? I can't sleep).


Oh well. I bid the Marine Corps farewell. It has been an illustrious and magnificent seven years. I get out this next summer.

I am sad but hopeful.

Is anybody in a position to recommend me for a job? I have an impressive resume. I'll move anywhere in the world if the price is right!

DA, I will preface this by saying that I am certainly not trying to insult you, but rather to maybe prompt you to give your head a bit of a shake and make sure you are really doing what is right for you.

Okay. Quite frankly, your post sounded like it was made by a spoiled little kid who's mom wouldn't let him have a third cookie.

If I understand correctly, you currently have three choices.

1) Accept the fact that for whatever reason, you will not be promoted to Staff Sgt. early (i.e. prior to hitting "the Zone"). Carry on taking names and kicking ass until next year when you are actually in the Zone and are sure to be promoted, if all you say about your military prowess is true.

2) Accept the offered commission and take what sounds like has already been a solid military career to the next level. I will add that if you have based your decision to reject the offered commission on the standard enlisted man's natural dislike of those who wear rank on their collars rather than their sleeves, then you have made an extremely poor decision.

3) Quit the Corps because they didn't give you what you wanted a year early.

One thing that definitely comes across to me when I read your posts is that you are extremely proud (and rightfully so) of being a Marine. Another is that you believe very strongly in serving your country and hold the word duty in very high regard.

Both options 1 and 2 jibe well with what I know of you, which, admittedly, is very little.

And I also admit that there could well be many other factors at work that I am unaware of that may have influenced your decision.

But I hate to see anybody cut off their nose to spite their face.

[The Stranger]

so in simple english...YOU QUIT or did you got fired???

[Redleg]

so in simple english...YOU QUIT or did you got fired???

Not even close - and very close to a personal attack in my opinion.


Promotion below the zone is an reward for excellent service - and only a few get it. It also requires that no others in the primary zone were qualified for the projected openings to the next rank. Its extremely rare to get promoted below the zone no matter how great your qualifications are.

Certain skills get more promotions below the zone (in the Army that is) because of the number of slots available verus the number of non-commissioned officers available for consideration.

To Divinus Arma

If your still interested in pursueing your military career Divinus Arma don't get out because of disappointment in not getting promoted below the zone - as Goofball stated that is cutting your nose off to spite your face, most likely in two to three years you will reget that decsion. Insure that you are leaving the service because you have greater possiblities outside.

If the below the zone promotion results was what was holding you back from your decision - then by all means make the decsion that is in your best interests. However the promotion should not have been the only reason you would of wanted to leave or even stay in the military.

[Kagemusha]

Good luck on your future endevours, Divinus.

[Kraxis]

I'll move anywhere in the world if the price is right!

I don't know why nobody has jumped at this before, so I'll play devil's advocate here.

Anywhere in he world for the right money? Why not seek employment at a security agency working in Iraq, I hear they need qualified employment, and pay very well.



Actually, I would rather like your take on that option. Would you really do it or is that "the entire world" minus that (not bashing at in case of that mind you). You are obviously good, so I guess good pay would be a certain.

[Divinus Arma]

I don't know why nobody has jumped at this before, so I'll play devil's advocate here.

Anywhere in he world for the right money? Why not seek employment at a security agency working in Iraq, I hear they need qualified employment, and pay very well.

I would love to. But my wife would kill me before the Iraqis ever had a chance.

Actually, I would rather like your take on that option. Would you really do it or is that "the entire world" minus that (not bashing at in case of that mind you). You are obviously good, so I guess good pay would be a certain.

As far as the entire world, I recently posted a thread on "Why should I move to your country?"

I quite enjoy service. It is one of the few environment where many people truly believ in thing s like "honor", "integrity", "loyalty", "courage", and "commitment". So I guess I prefer a service-oreinted job like police, fire, medical, or military.

But I think the bottom line is professionalism. I am a professional. And one does not need to be military to be professional. No matter what I do, I will take my job seriously and treat it and my employer with deserved respect.

Its the lack of professionalism out in the civilian world that scares me mmost. For example, I had some lady get in a car accident and it was her fault. When I told her that it was her fault, she said I was just playing favorites because the other driver was military. I find this hilarious since I am a Military Policeman and my primary apprehension authority rests in my ability to arrest military. I have very limited authority over civilians. My point is that this lady really believed what she said. I am not looking forward to dealing with all the nuts out there like her.



And BTW, Del Arroyo is exactly correct in his assessments of the promotion system and my reason for leaving.

[Geoffrey S]

I am not looking forward to dealing with all the nuts out there like her.

Yup, the world is indeed a scary place outside the military.

[GoreBag]

Yup, the world is indeed a scary place outside the military.

Likewise for former prison inmates.