Do you know what they call a Gunnery Sergeant Select?
A Staff Sergeant.
Apparently, it is a funny joke among Marines, especially Staff Sergeants who just found out they will be promoted in the next month or two. Which just happens to be the case for my husband.
I want to take a minute to explain more of this promotion stuff for my readers without military affiliation. Military promotion is done a little differently than in the civilian workforce. Generally speaking, military members are promoted based on time in rank than personal merit. Therefore, a great staff sergeant who has only been a staff sergeant for a a year will not be considered for promotion against a mediocre staff sergeant with three years in the rank. The new stellar staff sergeant has to be meritoriously promoted or wait until he is "in the zone". I am not a military person and I don't claim to know if this system is a good one. But compared to a civilian job, I believe it is dysfunctional and promotes complacency. The military system doesn't encourage anyone to be amazing because most of the time amazing won't be rewarded.
Congratulations to your husband! That's great news!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I agree that it's so dysfunctional. There are guys on my husband's boat who still aren't qualified for subs, but will continue to get promoted. One of the best officers on the boat put in his resignation and wrote a long letter explaining how dysfunctional it is that he does his job and gets promoted at the same rate as the guy who plays video games at work. It was a truly fantastic letter, and I hope it gets in the right hands so people figure out how messed up the system is!
Again, congrats!!!
Congratulations! That is wonderful news. :)
ReplyDeleteYay!!!! Congratulations!!! Love wet downs! Have fun!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your husband! Have fun celebrating! :)
ReplyDeleteYayyy! Congratulations to him and your family!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you husband! We know a couple guys who made the list this time.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to him and to your family! Hoping you have a sweet time of celebration!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Gunny Select!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDelete