Trav's Thoughts

Welcome to another Manic Monday with Morgen. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at It's A Blog Eat Blog World. Today's theme is Stripe.

Our nation's Flag has 13 Stripes, representing the original 13 colonies. Since I was about 7 years old, I wanted to serve that Flag. I wanted to be a Marine.

But things sometimes happen, and the dreams of our youth go unrealized. My knees got wrecked, and my dream of becoming a Marine never happened. I never stopped wanting to be a Marine though. I never stopped wanting to serve my country and my Flag.

Here's a little bit of information about the Stripes enlisted Marines wear on their sleeves, and how they earn them.

Promotion to ranks lower than Corporal are decentralized, meaning that they are awarded based on time in service and time in grade. These promotions can be delayed based on poor proficiency reports and bad behavior. A good Marine who does his duty, trains hard, and abides by the Corps values he learned in boot camp generally can count on these promotions.

Promotions to the noncommissioned officer ranks of Corporal and Sergeant are competitive promotions because there are only so many vacancies in each grade above E-3. Promotions to these ranks have time in service and time in grade requirements, as well as composite score points. These include scores on physical fitness tests and rifle range qualifying, as well as marks for duty proficiency, good conduct, and a number of other criteria. Some other avenues that an enlisted Marine has to compile points include self-education bonus points and points for good performance as a Drill Instructor, Recruiter, or in Marine Security.

Promotion to ranks higher than Sergeant have the added requirement of a promotion board convened by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The individual Marines do not appear before the board, rather their records are reviewed and evaluated based on specified criteria such as current and past assignments, military awards and decorations, and proficiency reports.

Marines can be promoted "below-the-zone". This means that outstanding Marines can be considered for promotion one year prior to normal eligibility. This is sometimes called the "5% list" because only 5% of Marines can be considered in this way based on outstanding ability and career potential.

Marines can also be promoted for meritorious service, up to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. Enlisted Marines may also earn combat meritorious service promotions.

The rank of Private has no insignia and is classified as E-1 on the pay scale. This is the lowest rank in the Corps. Privates just out of boot camp are basically trained Marines and are focused on the physical, mental, and educational training required to build upon the basic training with which they graduate boot camp.

After 6 months time in service with 6 months time in grade, a Private is eligible for promotion to Private First Class. A PFC is classified as E-2 on the pay scale. This promotion is as close to automatic as they come, provided that the Marine does his job to the best of his ability and doesn't get in trouble.

Promotion to Lance Corporal, pay grade E-3, is another decentralized promotion relying on time specific criteria. Marines, regardless of Military Occupation Specialty (MOS), are eligible for promotion to Lance Corporal with 9 months time in service and 8 months time in grade. Lance Corporals often serve as fire team leaders, in command of up to 4 other Marines.

Corporal is the lowest grade of noncommissioned officer (NCO). Promotion to Corporal, grade E-4, requires 12 months time in service and 8 months time in grade, as well as the necessary composite score points. Corporals serve as squad leaders.

To qualify for promotion to the NCO rank of Sergeant, grade E-5, a Corporal must have 24 months time in service and 12 months time in grade, as well as the composite score points and positive efficiency reports. Sergeants may serve as squad leaders but most often serve as section heads and instructors.

To be considered for promotion to the NCO rank of Staff Sergeant, grade E-6, a Marine Sergeant must have 4 years time in service and 24 months time in grade. He must also complete and pass The Marine Noncommissioned Officer (MCI) Course, The Noncommissioned Officer Basic Nonresident Program, or The Sergeants Nonresident Program/Sergeants Distance Education Program. Staff Sergeants usually serve as platoon sergeants and are often the senior tactical advisors to platoon commanders, and often handle administrative issues and general training for the platoon.

Promotion to the staff NCO rank of Gunnery Sergeant, grade E-7, requires 6 years time in service and 3 years time in grade. A Staff Sergeant must complete Senior Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) Career Nonresident Program/SNCO Career Distance Education Program. A Gunnery Sergeant serves as company logistics coordinator and operations chief, with a junior Gunnery Sergeant often serving as platoon sergeant for weapons platoons. Gunnery Sergeants may be informally referred to as Gunny. Eligible Gunnery Sergeants must indicate whether they wish to be considered for promotion to Master Sergeant or First Sergeant.

Promotion to the senior NCO rank of Master Sergeant, grade E-8, requires 8 years time in service and 4 years time in grade, with completion of The SNCO Advanced Nonresident Program/SNCO Advanced Distance Education Program and The War fighting Skills Program. Master Sergeants are occupational specialists providing technical leadership. Master Sergeants may be informally referred to as Top. Master Sergeants are on track to be promoted to Master Gunnery Sergeant.

Promotion to the senior NCO rank of First Sergeant, grade E-8, requires 8 years time in service and 4 years time in grade, with completion of either the SNCO Career Nonresident Program/SNCO Career Distance Education Program or The SNCO Resident Course, and The SNCO Advanced Nonresident Program/SNCO Advanced Distance Education Program, and The War fighting Skills Program, and The Staff Noncommissioned Officer Advanced Resident Course. A First Sergeant has command responsibility and is on track to be promoted to Sergeant Major.

Promotion to the senior staff NCO rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant, grade E-9, requires 10 years time in service and 3 years time in grade. Master Gunnery Sergeants maintain their specialty MOS, which allows them to continue their role as providers of technical military leadership. They may be informally referred to as Master Gunns or Master Gunny. Master Gunnery Sergeant is one of the two highest enlisted ranks, shared with Sergeant Major but with different responsibilities.

Promotion to the senior staff NCO rank of Sergeant Major, grade E-9 requires 10 years time in service and 3 years time in grade. A Sergeant Major serves as the senior enlisted Marine in a battalion or higher echelon unit, assisting the unit commander with administrative matters such as discipline and morale. Sergeant Major is one of the two highest enlisted ranks, shared with Master Gunnery Sergeant but with different responsibilities.

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is the senior enlisted Marine in the Corps. The rank and billet is unique to the Marine Corps and was established in 1957. The SMMC is the senior enlisted advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The first was SMMC Wilbur Bestwick. There have been a total of 16 to hold the rank, including the SMMC Carlton W Kent who currently has the billet.

I wanted to be a Gunnery Sergeant. But I didn't get a chance to earn any stripes.

However I have come to know that honor can still be found in the act of service, and not just in the type of service. So I honor the people who put on the military uniforms of my country. And I envy their stripes just a little bit sometimes, even as I serve to the best of my ability and in the way that is best for me.

Wrecked knees can't take that away.