Internal Marine Corps Politics.

Many thanks to Dave for sending me the link to this story.  It definitely flew beneath my radar.

via Foreign Policy by Thomas Ricks...

Last month (mid-August) the Marine Corps announced that it would start firing captains and majors who have repeatedly been passed over for promotion. Or, as the announcement of the policy change put it, "EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, MARINE CORPS POLICY IS TO SELECT FOR CONTINUATION ONLY THOSE TWICE PASSED MAJORS AND TWICE PASSED CAPTAINS WHOSE CONTINUED SERVICE IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE MARINE CORPS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE SECRETARY Of THE NAVY."
Two e-mails about this appeared in my inbox.
The first was from a more senior Marine officer: "We are institutionally breaking faith all over the place. Amos is killing the soul of the Corps. His legacy is going to be one of division and resentment."
The other, immediately above it, was from a field-grade officer: "About time."
Which one is right?

Hmmm.

This is a tough one.  Unfortunately they're both right.

First.  The "more Senior Marine Officer" is spot on.  Amos IS killing the soul of the Corps.  I've never seen more division in our cohesive organization in my life.  Resentment isn't vocalized, instead its talked about in hushed tones with trusted individuals.  No one is being honest in their opinions because it could be a career ender if you buck HQMC when it comes to a new questionable policy.

Second.  The Field Grade Officer is spot on.  This is a gun club.  Not a university.  We don't (or rather shouldn't) promote on the basis of diversity, ass kissery or any other form of favoritism.  If you can't don't pack the stones to be the best among the best then thank you for your service but move on to another stage in your life.  No embarrassment.  No need for a lowered head.  You did your bit for God and Country but there are better qualified men that earned what you couldn't.

Unfortunately that isn't the case.  People are being passed over because they weren't able to check all the boxes because they were down range doing the deed.  Meanwhile some individuals that lived comfortably, were never subjected to the rigors of living in an outpost or dogging IEDs are seen as golden because they accomplished all the required PME and we can't give extra marks for doing what Marines do.  Go to war. 

This necessary reform will not work because the man at the top is not trusted.  Faith is being broken and it will take a new Commandant to restore confidence.

Amos is without a doubt the weakest, most incompetent, and totally despised leader the Marine Corps has had in my lifetime.  His retirement can't come soon enough.

Sidenote: Rumor central has it that he's already politicking for a Combatant Commander posting.  These same rumors state that he's aiming for the Pacific.  God help us all if its true.  God save us if he's selected.