Originally Posted by
chuckman
I don't disagree with some of this. But, the Corps has enlisted MOSs it has to fill, and the quality of the people in those MOSs and the ASVAB requirements will require a different level of applicant (far smarter than I; talking Navy nuke type). Seems the discussion is how to recruit and how to retain. If they do nothing, then nothing will change.
Coming from one of those enlisted MOS background, with the comically low retention to back it up (<2%), that feedback cycle is real. Particularly so when most of the SNCO cadre are people imported from comm battalions who know very little about what is unique to a radio battalion, and only the smarter ones actually develop enough of a clue and appreciation for what us nerds were truly capable of. At least the O-2's would have finally figured out that they were not the smartest ones in the room (and quite often not even the most educated), and be able to drive on and become actually excellent leaders... but to some extent that poisons them to further USMC utility because they have then developed the incredibly rare and valuable skillset of being able to manage very intelligent skilled people, that is also very desirable to the outside world (particularly with a TS/SCI still active).
Coming from that specific talent pool (99 pctile ASVAB, >150 DLAB types), and not being completely incapable at the rest of the military tasking, the fact that no special retention effort had ever really been made besides allowing people to maintain the foreign language pay was telling enough. If they were throwing $35k bonuses at new kids to try and make it through, but no incentives to retain those with already the language and technical proficiency (acquired at far greater cost), then the business model is entirely reliant on a constant stream of fresh talent, and being an experienced old goat only had utility if one wanted to stay on and try to improve the SNR in the SNCO caste against the above mentioned problems.
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"Being able to do the basics, on demand, takes practice. " - Sinister
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