General Amos,
You are the senior Marine in our beloved Corps, holding a position entrusted to just 34 other men over the glorious history of our Sea Service. You are not the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, or of the Army. Nor are you Chief of Naval Operations. You are the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Your Marines have shed their blood and wrapped themselves in glory on battlefields in two wars. Look out among the faces of your junior NCOs, your junior Officers, SNCOs, and Field Grade Officers, and you will see Combat Action Ribbons aplenty. Purple Hearts. Sprinklings of Bronze Stars and Silver Stars, and even a Navy Cross here and there. Living Marines wear Medals of Honor from these wars. More have been presented posthumously to parents of fallen heroes who displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of [his] life above and beyond the call of duty, and whom gallantly gave his life for his country.
And then we, YOU, subject them to this:
The Washington Times reported earlier this week that the Corps sent a Dec. 12 message to commanders officially beginning mandatory breath tests for all 197,000 Marines twice each year.
A reading of just .01 percent subjects a Marine to counseling. A Marine who registers a .04 must be examined by medical staff for fitness for duty.
The Marine memo calls a “positive test result” a reading of .01 or greater, which results in automatic “screening and treatment as appropriate.”
They write with their blood and courage another glorious chapter in the long and storied combat history of the Marine Corps, and you treat them like children. Under a teetotaling and stiff-necked schoolmaster. Now, I don’t think you thought of this folly on your own. Secretary of the Navy Mabus has been pushing this horrendously ill-advised plan for some time in the Navy. Somewhere along the line, you or those who advise you, including your SgtMaj, decided that the Corps does things tougher and stricter than everyone else. Someone forgot to tell you (and them) that when it comes to stupidity, that is not such a good idea.
“It’s possible if a Marine goes to a bar and is drinking a substantial amount of alcohol over the course of an evening, and he gets himself to a BAC of 1.5 or 2.0, if they are tested first thing in the morning when they report to duty, they may still have some alcohol in their blood and test positive,” he added.
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;
Craig Swain
dgharvey
ultimaratioregis
roamingfirehydrant
themavf14d
xbradtc
Amos simply needs to find another job. I remember COMSIXFLT mandating we not go on the beach in jeans in 1973 because those evil things make us get in bar room fights and other disorderly conduct. Such things are stupid and I remember what we thought of COMSIXFLT too. He conveniently canceled a visit to Courtney right after that order. I’d have been ashamed to face the troops after that as well.
0.01%? They do realize they’re going to refer every Marine that uses Listerine for counseling, right?
Yet another example if the total decay of the concept of personal responsibility in or society. 26 innocent people aren’t dead because of a nut job, it’s assault weapons (whatever the hell those are). Marines aren’t getting into trouble because they’re mostly young men (who, in the history of our species have never been in the running for most sensible demographic) prone to violence (non-violent people tend to find other jobs), it must be because of Demon Rum.
Forget the Clue-stick, somebody needs to call in a Clue-orbital-strike on DC.
Jeff, I hadn’t thought of that, but I think they should all get together and use the stuff every morning. Maybe even just before morning formation to insure a good strong hit.
Every. One. Of. Them. Company grade and below.
I’d agree with the orbital strike. I’d want something a bit stronger than clue however. Something built around U235, or Plutonium would be far better. During the state of the union address would be the best timing.
I have always believed that the public has a “canked” view of how our Soldier’s, Sailor’s, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard should, or do conduct themselves. It is almost as if they expect different from us than the general population in that we don’t or shouldn’t drink etc. Preposterous.
Did you know that a lot of people believe that the Sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknowns up at Arlington are told that when they become Sentinels, they must give up all drinking and swearing for life? Yes, FOR LIFE. Even after they retire. Unbelievable, eh? I don’t know where they get this stuff.
For the record, I was neither a Tomb Guard nor a Ranger.
**drinks bourbon while wrapped in snivel gear**
Dammit!
Sentinels are subject to revocation of their badges if they do anything that will bring discredit to themselves, their post, or their badges. There is wide latitude to this, but it does not include drinking or swearing.
I suggest that every Marine no longer on active duty call the Commandant’s office and voice their opinion of this action. Also if all organizations with Marine members were to write to the Commandant’s office and say that they would prefer that he not visit them in the future, he might catch a clue
Paul.
BZ URR
This is called “leadership” from afar and micromanaging…..It actually isn’t leadership at all. Leadership is knowing your men and women well enough to know when they are “under the influence” of drugs or alcohol. Fire the person in charge for not knowing and taking appropriate action. Testing is nothing short of a slap in the face of real leaders..
Mickey, you nailed it in just five sentences. Well done,lad.
The Commandante is a great dissapointment.
Hell have they forgotten our tradition of fighting hard drinking and cursing.Why the hell would they call the E-clubs(and I’m dating myself) animal pits or zooes if not that we have always had a tradition of hard drinking and fighting in our own clubs.Marines aren’t happy unless they are fighting either the enemy or each other.Even Eleanor Roosevelt commented on our behavior and how much she loved us for it.Commandant my message to you is to remember your called a Marine and thats the greatest honor,don’t forget our roots and trample on our traditions because some want us to be politically correct.When they call on the Corp to step up they aren’t calling the politically correct,they are calling the bad asses that will get the job done,and thats because of our tradition
SEMPER FI
Although I agree in principle with your line of thought, your comment about Mrs. Roosevelt seems at odds with history. As I recall, the President’s wife wasn’t impressed with our Corps members and considered us to be uncouth and – worse yet – to be irrrelevant. She publicly called for the dismantling of the Corps in 1947. Fortunately, folks tasked with making those decisions weren’t swayed by her campaign.BTW,can you see the same lack of respect for the armed services as a whole displayed by the current Mrs. CinC? Of course, she sees that same attitude expressed by her husband. Sadly, the Marine Corpse (Obama’s pronunciation) will never be the same when the fellow in charge places his left hand over his right-side chest to observe the recognition of our nation’s flag during ceremonies when the National Anthem is played. On the positive side, he hasn’t committed this faux pas in every one of the fifty-seven states;just a few dozen.
In my opinion, the present Commandant of the Marine Corps has proven himself to be somewhat gutless; on second thought, completely gutless.
Back in the 50′s at Camp Lejeune Area 1 had a “slpo Chute at the River Road end of the area. During the weekends it was the Norm for 1st and 3 rd Bn 6the Marines to hold Musters on the Green.Everything was legal
from “E” tools and anything else . Yet on Monday Morning came and Morning Muster went all hands were in formation, no worse for the wear from the weekend at the Club
There were no “NJP’S” or Courts Martial because they were Marines \
being Marines.
CMC Let our Mariines continue to be “MARINE”
Semper Fidelis
GySgt E.W. Wilbur
USMC 1955-1975
Is this Part of the pussification of our Corps at the hands of a politician in uniform, the application of Air Wing ideology as it applies to a pilots, an example of the disconnect that may exist with fixed wing pilots and ground based Marines in general, perhaps it may be the lack of understanding of FMF and other “dirt Marines” or could it be good leadership that demands our brother and sister Marines step up and preform at a new level of expectations? Alcohol abuse has been a huge problem and this newest policy may be in response to that problem. Whatever the case it will likely have an impact on what has become the goal regarding the downsizing of the US Marine Corps. A service in which, according to former Sec. of Defense Gates statement at the Marines Memorial in San Francisco is a service whose presence may not be needed. “The administration questions the need for two land Armies”. He also stated that the Marine Corps has not made a Beach Landing since Korea. I’d agree that we will likely never make another landing like Inchon but I guess he was not aware of the landings that were made after Incheon Korea (during Vietnam for example).. Semper Fi !
If you having nothing to fear, nothing will come of this. Like so many policies in the Marine Corps, what it says will happen on paper, and what really happens can be as remote as the current Commandant becoming CJCS no matter how much ‘kissing up’ he does. Semper fi, Paul
During my time in the Corps there were times in garrison and overseas that I would have had a difficult time “making it” if I had not drank my fill after …deaths of my Marines, IDing one or more bodies, writing the letters home to next of kin, packing up my deceased Marine’s gear, visiting wives, parents, after long, hard duty days, after a 90 mile forced march with full combat gear…these are a few…damned there were a lot of other times
too! Bad idea! I don’t think Marines should have to be under such as this.
To get 4 stars you first become a politician, then a patsy to get on the joint staff etc.,that removes one from “field” leadership and subjects one to the whims of the civilian dogooderes. If you aini’t been there/done that, then you can’t make the rules ! ,We will always be “The Few,The Proud,The Marines !!!
JP,
Not universally true. Conway, Barrow, Gray, Hagee. They were MEN, warriors who led Marines. Amos is, unfortunately, a sad departure. I do hope the trend is not permanent.
Amos was NEVER a real Marine… that is the problem…
” Not made a beach lnding since Korea? Tell that the Marines and Corpsmen of 2/’7, who landed in Qui Nhon in July ’65 from APAs and LSDs, and again on the USMC Birthday that same year when they repositio9ned via APAs to Chu Lai!
Please, aside from being a complete pussy and “going along to get along”, the CMC and SgtMaj FAIL in USMC history! These guys are completely removed from the Corps….of course, look at their assignment histories.
My beloved Marine Corps like everything else today, is changing too much!!!!
What is our beloved Corps coming too, this CMC has joined the pussy league, what a wuss. Chesty is rolling over in his grave.Semper Fi
This General Amos is a DISGRACE to the Corps – for this – for his witchunting of our troops – for his “legacy tours of lecturing – and for his constant political rear end kissing of politicians rather than standing behind his men. As a Marine Mom of a Wounded Warrior – I can no longer encourage men to join the Corps as long as he is the Commandant. For the first time in my very long life of being a Corps supporter – I am ASHAMED of it’s “Leadership”. Or should I say lack of leadership. I used to know that our boys were well looked after, even when we had nut jobs running this country. Now we have one running this Corps. Our boys will always be in my heart and I will always be proud of you! But I beg you to get out of the Corps at first chance. This is no longer the real Marine Corps. The Corps is dead – Long Live The Marines.
The present Commandant of the Marine Corps has gone to far this time! Our men and women need to unwind just like we did when my brothers and I were in the Corps during the Vietnam years. He is trying to baby sit these present day Marines and they are not babies!! Us Marines of the First Battalion Ninth Marines (Vietnam, Korea and World War II era’s ) want the Marines that followed in our foot steps to be able to take a drink and not be punished for it! General Amos do the right thing.
Maj. Schuette,
as long as there are Marines like you – telling as it is.
we will survive the likes of Amos.
thanks for you input.and semper fi
Capt.USMC/Ret
1957-1980
And as an old FMF Corpsman, I can imagine what I would do with the results of those tests–NOT the Marine Corps that I served with in the 50′s and 60′s
There’s always been a glaring difference in cultures between the Marine Corps “Wing” and Marine Corps “Ground.” Would an aviator type ever “get it” about ground types. It’s doubtful a Ground CMC would have acted this way. It’s not the first time the aviator CMC has used a knee-jerk reaction to a permanent long range issue.
Ground types whole life is consumed with people themselves. Wing types whole life is consumed with mostly support of and conduct of recreational training flights, isn’t it. Am I wrong? L>
L> Again, you nailed it!! My opinion, this CMC is nothing more than a
butt licking politician who has thrown in with people who can’t begin to
understand our culture or what makes us tick! In doing so, he has chosen a path that in no way representative of our beloved Corps or of the totally
unforgiving fortitude or strength of the men and women who people it!!!!
This also applies to anyone, commissioned or otherwise, who support his
policies. We can only pray that our next Commamdant wil bring with him
OLD CORPS ATTITUDES AND CONVICTIONS!!!! Semper Fidelis. BILL.
I would think that the next step will be to amend that portion of the promotion certificate that refers to “reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelities…” The Second Front in Jacksonville can be converted to a string of tea rooms and candle shops. Perhaps those who would aspire to a star should be sure to take a typing course so that they can send 10 or 20 thousand pages of e-mails to the bimbo of their choice a la Gen. Allen. I, but am proud of this generation of Marines but glad I left when I did.