Sgt Grit,
If you need to paraphrase or condense the following document you
have my permission and the reason is because it is important to
me to get this changed and I realize that it is long but I have
a mild TBI and it now takes me 15 words to say something that
might only take 5 words. I also want you to know I explained at
the Battalion Level that the reason I wanted to pin my son was
because when I was injured he would help put my legs in the car,
get my pants on, tie my shoe, let me put my arm around him when
I got tired and he would help me walk. It is rare to see that
kind of dedication out of a 16 year old kid and then to turn
around and after seeing his dad almost die and all the struggles
with PTSD and TBI and still want to be a Marine I can't put into
words the amount of Pride I have for my son. (I also have two
other kids who without them I wouldn't be here and one of them
is serving in the Army and I am also extremely proud of him for
wanting to join the Army.)
I don't want Marine's who come behind me with the same issues
and be denied. Nothing can give me back what I was robbed but
hopefully we can change the future.
On a personal note I just want to say thank you for your
service. As a Vietnam Vet you have opened up your heart and
lives for those of us returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and
let us know we will be OK. There are days I don't know if I am
going to make it in this world and I think of you and know that
if you can survive over 40 years then I will be OK. I love you
and thank you for all you do. Welcome Home Marine.
Semper Fi,
Nick Bennett
P.S.
There is 20 years difference between our oldest and youngest so
I have dubbed this Picture Past, Present, and possibly the
future!
…..
Sgt Grit,
I am writing to inform you of disturbing trends in our beloved
Marine Corps and hopefully with enough coverage we can implement
some changes in Recruit Training.
Some background information first. I am a retired Marine Staff
Sergeant having been wounded by a 107mm Chinese Rocket in Iraq
on 11 November 2004. I have had over 26 surgeries and still
suffer from being in a combat zone. In spite of everything my
kids have seen my two oldest boys have followed in their dads
footsteps by joining the Armed Forces. My 20 year old is
proudly serving his Country with the Army in Alaska. My 22 year
old just graduated from Parris Island on the 21st of January
2011 and the reason I am writing.
My son went to college and earned enough credits to be a
contract PFC. Since we were going to family day and graduation
I emailed his Senior Drill Instructor and asked if I could pin
PFC on him and explained my background as a Marine. To my
horror I was told that a contract PFC doesn't have a ceremony so
the answer was no.
After talking it over with my wife and fellow Marine family I
decided to try and find someone in the chain of command that
might be able to help me promote my son. Needless to say Semper
Fidelis doesn't apply to anyone I talked to at Parris Island and
was told by one Sergeant that I would have an opportunity in 9
months to try and pin LCpl on him.
In spite of all that, I did find out that if you graduate
Meritorious they do hold a promotion ceremony. My question and
maybe someone can help me is when does getting a rank not
warrant a promotion ceremony. My son worked just has hard to
get PFC along with the other Marines who graduated as PFC and
was robbed of one of the greatest traditions in the Marine Corps
and that is a promotion ceremony in front of your fellow
Marines. I am sure I am going to hear all sorts of excuses like
there is no time in boot camp and every second of every day is
accounted for but there is time for some Marines so why are they
special? They can't hold a promotion ceremony for everyone but
there is time to go to the museum, as evident at the following
location, what is more important? If you look at the Parris
Island website and look at the training cycle you will see:
Recruit Training Matrix: Phase III
T41 (Training Day 41) Museum Tour – To assist with reinforcing
what they have learned about Marine Corps history, and to help
them learn about the history of Parris Island, recruits visit
the Parris Island Museum.
I was only asking for a 5 minute ceremony and maybe I should
have asked for the Company Gunny or First Sergeant to see about
being able to promote him. I did talk to someone at the
Battalion level and at the Company level and was brushed off
both times. I just want to say thank you for robbing my son and
every other Marine who has got promoted and not giving a proper
promotion ceremony. I can't believe you teach classes on
Customs and Courtesies, Leadership, and all about Marines being
Brothers and Sisters and then cheat them out of a promotion
ceremony and to add insult to injury holding a promotion
ceremony for just a select few.
The second issue I had was in regards to Graduation. Since they
have implemented the Crucible the Recruits are now given the
Eagle, Globe, and Anchor and called Marines for the first time
almost a week before, Graduation has been reduced to nothing
more than a ceremony. There is no more significance to it and
in theory you could do away with Family Day and make it
Graduation Day instead. The issue I have is the fact that as a
Marine I missed out on the greatest milestone of my son's life
and that is him being called A Marine for the first time.
Parris Island did a terrible job of explaining the significance
of what happens after the Crucible in regards to the Eagle,
Globe, and Anchor Ceremony and the recruits earning the title
Marine. I would have loved to see them play a video of them
receiving the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on Family Day while they
stood in formation and explained to the families the importance
of the ceremony while the families were given a brief on the
Recruit's time on the Island. I bought a challenge coin of the
Crucible with the date on when he earned the title Marine and my
son's eyes started to leak along with mine when I presented it
to him and said welcome to the family. I realize they have a
lot going on but even my son missed the significance of that
moment till I explained it to him.
On Training Day 68 they have what is called "Share the Legacy."
There is also an important moment when Marines, past and
present, come visit and "Share the Legacy," passing along their
experiences, and telling the new Marines how the Corps' core
values have shaped their lives. After the Marines get secured
from Family Day what a phenomenal time would this be for the new
Marines who have family that have spent time as Marines to come
in and talk and answer questions about the Marine Corps. Can
you imagine the wealth of Marine Corps History that could be
handed down from Marines who have been there and done that?
This is all above my pay grade to figure out but it can be
accomplished.
I would like to hear from other Marine families and Drill
Instructors on these issues to see if it is just me or if there
is and should be an outcry to try and get this implemented so
that everyone has a promotion ceremony and families get to
witness one of the most important milestones in their kid's life
when they are first called Marines.
Semper Fi,
Nick Bennett
SSgt USMC Ret
1988-1996, 2004-2007