June 9, 2008

• Dear Marine Corps,

  Dear Marine Corps,

  
  

  You've been good to me most of the time, and I have been grateful for that.  I have had interesting experiences when I was under your tutelage-- sometimes good, sometimes bad, but it was all a learning experience.  I appreciate all that you have done to me, but sometimes.... just sometimes you just piss me the hell off.

  
  

  I've dealt with years of abuse, but I sucked it up like a man.  I've put up with extremely piss-poor leaders and commands, and I've gotten in trouble for dealing with them in my own way.  I admit, I always had a problem with authority, but I try to be respectful sometimes until you really piss me off.  And it takes a LOT to piss me off, but somehow you pulled it off on several occasions.

  
  

  But the one thing that I just can't stand about you is the lack of communication.  We don't communicate and talk like we used to..... if we even did in the first place.  I'm the type of NCO that tries to keeps his troops informed at all costs, but when you don't inform me in the first place of what the F- is going on until I find something out the very last minute..... it makes me look bad.  The fact that I'm kept out of the loop half the time makes me look like a jackass in front of my troops, when they look up to me for advice and guidance.  When I let them down, they can't see me as a reliable leader and go-to guy anymore.  I am not a fan of getting blindsided like this.

  
  

  I have served you for six and a half years now; my EAS was in January, which means I was supposed to be long gone about 6 months ago.  But somehow I told myself that it wasn't that bad, because I still had 2 years left of IRR time and I was going to continue to drill with you for two more years until my entire 8-year contract was up.  Somehow I was convinced that it was worth sticking around for just to mentor this great group of junior Marines that I had, and serving with my Gunnery Sergeant that was more like a father than just a simple leader.

  
  

  But that doesn't mean that I'm stupid and I'm sticking around for good.  As a backup plan, I already have my check-out sheet and it's almost complete.  All I need is a signature or two (that I'm more than capable of forging) and turning it in if I decide to relinquish my reservist status and drop into the IRR.  Basically, I have my letter of resignation sitting in my pocket, ready to turn in at any given moment in case shit goes downhill.

  
  

  You see-- after all the bullshit that I had to put up with: the petty politics, the hidden personal agendas, and trivial and unnecessary rules and regulations, I am starting to regret my decision to stick around for the two extra years that I don't need.  I don't care what you think, but I deserve better, my junior ranks deserve better.  You know it too, because thats the truth, whether you like it or not.  I'm losing faith in you, bro.

  
  

  So keep pissing me off, Marine Corps.  Keep pressing your luck, because I would hate to abandon my Marines.  But you leave me no choice these days.  Go ahead, give me a reason to quit.

  • 12:40 pm
  • 4 Comments