USMC's "Lateral Entry" concept

[ThirdWatcher]

If every Marine is a rifleman, they better damn well learn how to use a rifle, same as any other boot.

[C-grunt]

My main issue is... over the last 20 years we have seen many many examples of non combat personnel being thrust into frontline combat. During my second tour in Iraq the guy in my FOB with the most kills was one of the cooks. We were all out on a big mission to capture/kill a HVT. The local shitheads saw all the helicopters leaving and decided now was the time to raid the FOB. The cook was put on gate duty because we all left and got some good trigger time in.

So being a specialty IT pseudo Marine guy is all cool until Charlie gets in the wire.

On the other hand, if these are going to be strictly State side jobs, why do they need to have the uniform?

[Averageman]

The thing about working in an organization that calls itself "Elite" and has a set of stringent rules and regulations is that, that is certainly not the "Norm" in our Country.
In order to work in such and organization and uphold the standards of such an organization and not be seen as an outsider/intruder in such an organization, you need to adapt, sacrifice and enter such an organization as a hopeless, helpless peon of little value who developes in time, training and results. to become one with the organization.
In other words, you can't walk in off the street and take charge because your are seen as a piece of worthless shit until you prove yourself.
That is what truely makes an Elte Organization, well, Elite.

[Averageman]

The thing about working in an organization that calls itself "Elite" and has a set of stringent rules and regulations is that, that is certainly not the "Norm" in our Country.
In order to work in such and organization and uphold the standards of such an organization and not be seen as an outsider/intruder in such an organization, you need to adapt, sacrifice and enter such an organization as a hopeless, helpless peon of little value who developes in time, training and results. to become one with the organization.
In other words, you can't walk in off the street and take charge because your are seen as a piece of worthless shit until you prove yourself.
That is what truely makes an Elte Organization, well, Elite.

[chuckman]

If every Marine is a rifleman, they better damn well learn how to use a rifle, same as any other boot.

Are the band people and vocalists riflemen?

[chuckman]

My main issue is... over the last 20 years we have seen many many examples of non combat personnel being thrust into frontline combat. During my second tour in Iraq the guy in my FOB with the most kills was one of the cooks. We were all out on a big mission to capture/kill a HVT. The local shitheads saw all the helicopters leaving and decided now was the time to raid the FOB. The cook was put on gate duty because we all left and got some good trigger time in.

So being a specialty IT pseudo Marine guy is all cool until Charlie gets in the wire.

On the other hand, if these are going to be strictly State side jobs, why do they need to have the uniform?

These cyber guys work in a basement in Hawaii. Or San Diego or DC. The closest they get to the wire is watching grunts take off on a float. Cooks, yeah, because they are deployed. Cyber don't deploy.

[chuckman]

I've reached out to a buddy, he's a Lt Col in the Marines, CO of a joint service cyber unit in Hawaii. He grew up traditional, infantry, recon, lat into intelligence. He'll have a good, measured opinion.

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

Are the band people and vocalists riflemen?

They go through boot camp and MCT the same as any other non 03xx MOS. The "every Marine a rifleman" is BS, but the fact of the matter is that plenty of non infantry Marines have medals with "v" on them too. If you are going to wear the uniform that others had to sweat and bleed for, then you should earn it all the same.

[C-grunt]

These cyber guys work in a basement in Hawaii. Or San Diego or DC. The closest they get to the wire is watching grunts take off on a float. Cooks, yeah, because they are deployed. Cyber don't deploy.

Then why do they need to have a uniform?

[chuckman]

They go through boot camp and MCT the same as any other non 03xx MOS. The "every Marine a rifleman" is BS, but the fact of the matter is that plenty of non infantry Marines have medals with "v" on them too. If you are going to wear the uniform that others had to sweat and bleed for, then you should earn it all the same.

Up to division, yes. The "President's Own" go through an indoc, not boot or MCT. Some of those lower band musician have indeed stood out in combat.

Plenty of Marines have earned BS/SS who haven't gone to boot, so again, (royal 'we') need to find best bang for the buck.

I'd also like to know why these Hi-Tech, Super Specialists can't be civil service or contracted as questioned previously.