quote:

Originally posted by oddball:

I'll be the guy; this was a diversity hire. 100%.

Flame me.

Flame? There would be an avalanche of water so enormous that has not happened since the days of Noah. Lol.

This is the sad part of equal opportunity programs. She could very well be the best but because of the programs like that and the current trend of diversity, inclusion, and shit, there is a cloud of doubt over her capabilities.

These programs keep minorities in shackles. Even liberals who are supposed for equality can be smug and say if it wasn't for their policies, she wouldn't be where she's at.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
I’m going to remain skeptical that she is the best qualified for this particular role.
Her LinkedIn page is peppered with “Diversity“ comments, which funny…is not mentioned in her bio.

I try to be more evolved…I genuinely do. But in this particular hire I cannot help but go back to my OP in this thread and channel my inner Harry Callahan and question a number of things about this hire.

Which is what it is, a hire. The military is so much like a corporate entity now that I hesitate to even bother using the the term ‘Promotion on Merit’ anymore.

Sorry…not sorry.

Ronin, you have mail.
Semper

Imma gonna go with “wokeness” is now, “Chesty” was then. It’s a new America.

That aside and as a Marine myself, the biggest issue I have with her is what self-respecting Sgt. Maj. has a Pistol Pizza box? WTF? And along with Rifle Expert? Something is fishy (maybe I should say “Anchovies”?)

And given the whole “diversity” shit, I even question if the Pizza Box was earned instead of given to avoid an “UNQ” (as I saw more than once for senior SNCO’s during my time).

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
I heard from a buddy you can't say WM anymore…

Is BAM is frowned on?

I can't imagine.If they can't take a joke they shouldn't have signed up.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by IrishWind:
Enemy fire completely optional.

Tell me that I don't have a point with my comments in this thread.

You just loooooove being contrary, dontcha? It sets you apart from all the riff-raff, huh?

Peasants! Bah!!

Not contrarian, just pointing out differences in combat awards and what you need to get them. Expeditionary medals you have to spend a minimum of 30 days in country/theater, and can only get one per deployment. She has 5. The Navy/USMC CAR and the Army's CAB/CIB you have to be in action/danger. The Army's combat patch you just have to be in the AOR for 24 hours and do not have to be any where near danger. I know people who earned their combat patch being stationed in Kuwait or Qatar. Part of me mocking those senior leaders in the Pentagon without combat patches is wondering what they were doing during Iraqi Freedom. Especially since the the Individual Augmentation program was started because the Army wasn't making their recruitment goals and complained they needed help in Iraq and Afghanistan. And many Navy and Air Force troops were pulled from duty stations to go be soldiers for a year or more.

Yes the military has pulled some shady moves to get women and/or minorities into and up the ranks. I have plenty of those stories too. But all I have here is ribbon rack to go off of, and she didn't spend the entire GWOT hiding State side running fund raisers for the annual Marine Corp Ball.

quote:

This is the sad part of equal opportunity programs. She could very well be the best but because of the programs like that and the current trend of diversity, inclusion, and shit, there is a cloud of doubt over her capabilities.

The way things work now, I pretty much tack an asterix (*) onto everything until proven otherwise, it's sad...

quote:

Originally posted by IrishWind:
Not contrarian, just pointing out differences in combat awards and what you need to get them.

And you will kindly do so without rolling your Goddamned eyes at me.

This WM's background is in communications/networking, yet she's now the senior enlisted for an infantry unit... common, uncommon or, not-unusual for a senior unit leader to come from a different occupation field?

Don't know about the Marines but in the Army, senior unit leaders for infantry came from the infantry...at least when I was in.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:
I’ve been fortunate to know several women in our Armed Forces.

I dated a USMC Staff Sergeant who was a damned talented photographer. Another was an Army Major, who was airborne qualified as the last < 115 pound person to attend Jump School. The next one after her was beaten to death against the plane because, as was later discovered if you weigh less than 120 pounds you lack the mass to properly deploy the parachute. I had a reservist USAF Captain, EOD-qualified no less, working for me when the IED toll in Iraq skyrocketed. Very capable lady who one-day found orders calling her back to active duty, in Iraq. She was disappeared into the JIEDDO world.

So I’m with Para, if they can do the job they are assigned, let’em get on with it. In that regard we should be like the Israelis - everyone is a front line soldier, even if typing out messages on an Ovaltine magic decoder ring.

I went through EOD school in 91. It's a joint service school so all branches go to the same school. There was a black, female Army captain who failed numerous times but they would not kick her out of the school. Depending on how bad the failure was, you might get a second shot before being booted. There was definitely preferential treatment for her. I had two Army officers in my class, one male and one female. Neither one had the slightest problem passing.

I have been out for many years. We had no females in my unit back then and we did not have many of the issues other units on post did at the time that involved females.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
This WM's background is in communications/networking, yet she's now the senior enlisted for an infantry unit... common, uncommon or, not-unusual for a senior unit leader to come from a different occupation field?

I preface this by saying "At least in the Marine Corps"

For the most part, Infantry stays in Infantry.
I know of Staff Sgts, Gunnery Sgts, Master Sgts that went from Infantry to Supply/Comm/Air Wing to fill a spot, then back to the Grunt Life.
All said it was their worst experience.

There's fewer spots as you move up the chain.
Let's say there's 100 private - lance corporal. There's 20 Corporals, then probably 10 Sgts, for that 100. 5 Staff Sgts, maybe 2 Gunny Sgts, 1 1stSgt. So in moving up the ranks, when's spot opens up, it's yours! A Grunt going over to an Air Wing spot, well... The wingers are going to learn a new way of life.

It occasionally and unfortunately does work the other was as well. You'll get an Admin guy his entire career move over to an Infantry unit as a Gunny or a 1st Sgt. This rarely works out well for everyone involved. In fact, I can't remember ever hearing of a time where this actually works out. Usually the Staff NCO just hides somewhere, or is told to hide somewhere as not to fuck up anymore things.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
This WM's background is in communications/networking, yet she's now the senior enlisted for an infantry unit... common, uncommon or, not-unusual for a senior unit leader to come from a different occupation field?

Marines stay in their MOS until they reach the grade of E-8. When they're an E-7, they choose to either pursue continued technical expertise in their MOS and promote to Master Sergeant (E-8) or they choose to leave the confines of their MOS and pursue a more leader focused role and become a 1stSgt (also E-8). If they choose to be a 1stSgt, their MOS changes to that of 8999 from whatever they were before. In the eyes of the Marine Corps, all 8999's of the same grade are equally assignable to any unit. Communications, Infantry, Artillery, Embarkation...once they're a First Sergeant they're all 8999s.

In short, yes its common for 1stSgt's/Sergeant's Major (what 1stSgt's promote to) to go from a background NOT in infantry, and then become an infantry 1stSgt/SgtMaj.

quote:

Originally posted by dwd1985:

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
This WM's background is in communications/networking, yet she's now the senior enlisted for an infantry unit... common, uncommon or, not-unusual for a senior unit leader to come from a different occupation field?

Marines stay in their MOS until they reach the grade of E-8. When they're an E-7, they choose to either pursue continued technical expertise in their MOS and promote to Master Sergeant (E-8) or they choose to leave the confines of their MOS and pursue a more leader focused role and become a 1stSgt (also E-8). If they choose to be a 1stSgt, their MOS changes to that of 8999 from whatever they were before. In the eyes of the Marine Corps, all 8999's of the same grade are equally assignable to any unit. Communications, Infantry, Artillery, Embarkation...once they're a First Sergeant they're all 8999s.

In short, yes its common for 1stSgt's/Sergeant's Major (what 1stSgt's promote to) to go from a background NOT in infantry, and then become an infantry 1stSgt/SgtMaj.

Thanks for the insight, helps explain things. I knew by E-7, you had to make a decision on where your career progression is going. Didn't quite understand if there were hard-line limitations with MOS pathways, however in today's environment, it appears there's no limitations if you're apart of certain groups.

Although I lack the military experience to fully appreciate the opinions expressed by many of the thread contributors, I do have the utmost respect for all those who have served in the military and deeply appreciate their service and sacrifice for our county. As a casual observer, the military experience and formal education credentials of SgtMaj Audu appear to me to be significantly more aligned with her promotion than many of the recent politically driven promotions or appointments in our uniformed services. Our current administration takes wokeness and virtue signaling to infuriating levels.

An example that first comes to mind is President Biden’s appointment of Rachel Levine as Assistant Secretary for Health. Levine is the first openly transexual Admiral in the uniformed services. Although highly educated, Admiral Levine has no prior military or uniformed services experiences, in 2021, she was commissioned by Biden as a Four-star Admiral. A good rank to begin a service career (sarcasm). During her commissioning ceremony, she gave special recognition to those in the LGBTQ community who contributed to her successful career.

I understand many of the differences between military services and the uniformed services and that upon an Executive Order from the President in a time of war or national defense emergency, the uniformed services become militarized. Upon militarization, service members enjoy all the military responsibilities and privileges of their rank. Although having no actual military combat experience, she can impress all the lower ranking military Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals with her COVID-19 Pandemic Campaign Medal (no joke).

I apologize for any topic shift from the OP. However, I felt compelled to share an example of the apparent significant inequity between actual experience and rank that can exist in the service.

quote:

Originally posted by Av8nShooter:
During her commissioning ceremony, she gave special recognition to those in the LGBTQ community who contributed to her successful career.

"she"? "her"? Who are you talking about? The guy in the dress?

Here's Patrick Swayze in drag, in the film To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.



Did putting on that outfit cause Swayze to become a woman?

You're right. I don't actually know whether Levine just changed clothes or went full surgical conversion from sausage to hot pocket. You got me curious to see if the answer was in a quick internet search. It apparently is not. And I've lost the interest to find out.

However, in the process of searching, I learned that the overwhelming majority of people who question their own sexual identity have responded to surveys that they have been diagnosed by professionals as having severe psychological issues. Which in my mind should eliminate them for consideration for high level government positions. Unfortunately, our current President seems to gravitate toward these types of individuals to fill roles in his administration regardless of their prior education or experience. Pathetic.

quote:

Originally posted by Av8nShooter:
went full surgical conversion from sausage to hot pocket.

I would like you to know how much it hurts when hot coffee shoots out your nose... Its not fun!

Consider that line stolen. I'll give you full credit though!