Where have all the SNCO's gone?

[TJT0321]

On the eve of my promotion to Staff Sergeant I've found myself contemplating what happened to all of the 0321 SNCO's. I'm sure the big $ coming from the contracting world has drawn many of them away from the Corps, but I'm still finding it hard to believe how few of them have stuck around.

The shortage of 0321's has gotten so bad that we're filling our SNCO ranks with guys from the grunts, airwing, and motor T.

We need more senior recon marines to protect the teams from all the stupidity coming down from higher. Where the hell are you guys?

[Silverbullet]

I recently attended a retirement of a well known dude in the community and by my hand count there were at least 100 GySgt's, MSgt's and MGySgt's there. Based on that there must be about 300 SSgt's floating around.

That's a hell of alot of SNCO's for the small size of the community.

You are speaking for the reserve side of the house as far as I can tell. Sounds like business as usual.

[skeeter8654]

Your post confused the shit out of me until I realized you were a reservist.

[RAT]

LOL... I was going to say it sounded a lot like 1990-1991 all over again.

RO!!!

[SOTB]

Ha! I was going to state that it read like raccoon units in the early 80's....

[TJT0321]

Sorry for the confusion. I guess it's a reserve thing. We can't seem to keep anyone around very long if they're not on a committed contract.

I guess I just miss my active duty days when my whole chain of command was made up of 0321's and they actually knew what the job entailed and had been there and done that.

Ha! I was going to state that it read like raccoon units in the early 80's....

SOTB, I'm not familiar with the history of raccoon units. Would you mind telling me a little about them? Thanks.

[SOTB]

SOTB, I'm not familiar with the history of raccoon units. Would you mind telling me a little about them? Thanks.Of course. I do have to admit that I'm surprised that you are not familiar with the lineage of raccoon units in the Corps, perhaps only surpassed in both legend and admiration by that of UBF.

I'm traveling now, but give me a little time and I'll put something together that can orient you to the history of raccoon units, and their impact upon both the Corps and raccooning in general....

[TJT0321]

Why do I get the feeling I'm being f*cked with?

[jdogonroad]

Now, this, ought to be entertaining

[Tracy]

Why do I get the feeling I'm being f*cked with?

Pray you don't pass the Pinky Test...

[BigNickT]

I have nothing to offer re: SNCO numbers in the modern Recon community, but congrats on picking up your rocker.

Tax out

[Markslams]

I'm gonna go grab some popcorn. This is going to get interesting.

[WoreOutMarine]

Pray you don't pass the Pinky Test...

LMAO............

[JSOC Marine 82]

SORB: I'm looking forward to reading your comments. Always interested in learning about the corps.

[SOTB]

I'm somewhat in a fixed location now, and I'll try my best to relate the info as factual as possible and not allow hearsay to creep into the writing.

I believe that somewhere around 1981, 3rd MarDiv began to experiment with a small unit concept dealing with the acquisition of materials and property. The formation of this unit was made up, at least initially, by former UBF personnel, with some allowance of reconnaissance Marines -- although this was generally discouraged due to their lack of sufficient physical conditioning and exposure to serious discomfort. UBF Marines are, of course, operationally exposed to the rigors of their work at such a frequency and level of stress, that the utilization of their members for forming this new unit was not only acceptable, but logical.

That Marines would deploy in small numbers -- even one-man units -- to seek out and obtain the previously-mentioned materials and property -- gave rise to quickly referring to them with the moniker of "raccoons". This since essentially, this is nothing more than disciplined theft, and authorized by military authorities. Raccoon Marines were (still are?) trained in a variety of specialized procurement techniques including; hot-wiring of cars, bypassing facility alarm systems, the rapid climbing of trees, opening sealed containers -- no matter whether stainless steel or plastic/rubber, and of course -- the ability to quickly and proficiently search drek in order to obtain those items designated in the mission.

Obviously, it was no time at all before reconnaissance units began to be confused with Raccoon Marines, probably since many would quickly relate the word "raccoon" to the sneak and peak types of operations of reconnaissance units -- especially since both words begin with the letter "R" and sort of flow in the general pronunciation direction. One should NOT misrepresent Raccoon Marines as merely being reconnaissance Marines, though -- this is a dishonor to the work and deeds that Raccoon Marines have performed throughout years of dedicated operations. Certainly, the few instances -- no more than a handful really, of incidents where Raccoon Marines were discovered pilfering coops for albumin and like items should not reflect upon the heritage and truly fantastic performance of these giants among of our Corps.

Simply, Raccoon Marines and units have given the same pride and exampling for us to follow, as did the UBF Marine units that gave birth to raccooning in the Corps....

[TJT0321]

congrats on picking up your rocker

Thanks.

[TJT0321]

So what you're saying is, the Raccoon's were the original thieves in the Marine Corps and since then everyone else has just been trying to get their shit back. :smile:

I'm somewhat in a fixed location now, and I'll try my best to relate the info as factual as possible and not allow hearsay to creep into the writing.

I believe that somewhere around 1981, 3rd MarDiv began to experiment with a small unit concept dealing with the acquisition of materials and property. The formation of this unit was made up, at least initially, by former UBF personnel, with some allowance of reconnaissance Marines -- although this was generally discouraged due to their lack of sufficient physical conditioning and exposure to serious discomfort. UBF Marines are, of course, operationally exposed to the rigors of their work at such a frequency and level of stress, that the utilization of their members for forming this new unit was not only acceptable, but logical.

That Marines would deploy in small numbers -- even one-man units -- to seek out and obtain the previously-mentioned materials and property -- gave rise to quickly referring to them with the moniker of "raccoons". This since essentially, this is nothing more than disciplined theft, and authorized by military authorities. Raccoon Marines were (still are?) trained in a variety of specialized procurement techniques including; hot-wiring of cars, bypassing facility alarm systems, the rapid climbing of trees, opening sealed containers -- no matter whether stainless steel or plastic/rubber, and of course -- the ability to quickly and proficiently search drek in order to obtain those items designated in the mission.

Obviously, it was no time at all before reconnaissance units began to be confused with Raccoon Marines, probably since many would quickly relate the word "raccoon" to the sneak and peak types of operations of reconnaissance units -- especially since both words begin with the letter "R" and sort of flow in the general pronunciation direction. One should NOT misrepresent Raccoon Marines as merely being reconnaissance Marines, though -- this is a dishonor to the work and deeds that Raccoon Marines have performed throughout years of dedicated operations. Certainly, the few instances -- no more than a handful really, of incidents where Raccoon Marines were discovered pilfering coops for albumin and like items should not reflect upon the heritage and truly fantastic performance of these giants among of our Corps.

Simply, Raccoon Marines and units have given the same pride and exampling for us to follow, as did the UBF Marine units that gave birth to raccooning in the Corps....

[SOTB]

So what you're saying is, the Raccoon's were the original thieves in the Marine Corps and since then everyone else has just been trying to get their shit back....I believe your post indicates that what I was stating was not well stated after all.

No matter.

Here's to the memory of many a UBF and Raccoon Marine, may they continue to serve their purpose far into the future....

[STOIC1]

TJT... If you really want to know where all the Staff NCO's have gone, ask your CO. He wont allow any contractors into the unit... He told me he only wants SNCO's that aren't going to miss drill. I doubt there's a shortage of POGue's out there who would love to coverdown on a StaffNCO billet at that unit, just to pull a barney fife "Yeaup...*snif* I'm a Staff Sergeant in Recon..." I'd like to keep my affiliation, for the benefits, and mentor some youngins, but unless the Reserve Recon units change their policies, guys are gonna continue to come off active and chill in the IRR until they fall off contract completely. So much for the Commandants mandate to retain experienced Marines.

[mdwest]

Marine the Raccoon even has HER own facebook page...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marine-The-Raccoon/345883552090?filter=3

video game...

http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/Marine_the_Raccoon_(Archie)

and music video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugp_VNdU1ZQ&feature=related

[TJT0321]

STOIC,

I hadn't heard about that policy, but it doesn't surprise me. The command has been pretty adamant about attendance at drill. Not sure what all the fuss is about. Guys have jobs and school other priorities and should be able to reschedule their drills without all this drama, but it's gotten to be a big issue. Maybe they'll rethink the policy once they have a company made up of nothing but boot LCPL's.

TJT... If you really want to know where all the Staff NCO's have gone, ask your CO. He wont allow any contractors into the unit... He told me he only wants SNCO's that aren't going to miss drill. I doubt there's a shortage of POGue's out there who would love to coverdown on a StaffNCO billet at that unit, just to pull a barney fife "Yeaup...*snif* I'm a Staff Sergeant in Recon..." I'd like to keep my affiliation, for the benefits, and mentor some youngins, but unless the Reserve Recon units change their policies, guys are gonna continue to come off active and chill in the IRR until they fall off contract completely. So much for the Commandants mandate to retain experienced Marines.