thedrifter
07-13-05, 06:06 AM
July 18, 2005
More fallen Marines may get promotions
Policy change makes junior troops eligible
By Christian Lowe
Times staff writer
Dozens of fallen enlisted Marines could be in line for posthumous promotions under a recent change to the Corps’ policy governing such advancements.
The new policy applies to Marines from private to corporal who met the requirements for promotion but were killed in the month before their promotion date.
Manpower officials say a Marine in such a situation will automatically be promoted.
The new policy also applies to Marines in the same four grades who were recommended for meritorious promotion by their commander but died before their promotion date.
“The commandant wanted to adjust the policy for junior Marines to reflect the policy for staff noncommissioned officers,” said Col. Lee Freund, head of the promotions branch of Manpower and Reserve Affairs at Quantico, Va.
The change shows that the “accomplishments of junior Marines are the same as those of staff NCOs.”
The new posthumous promotion policy is spelled out in a June 27 Corpswide message, MarAdmin 285/05.
In the past, the posthumous promotion of junior Marines was “pretty restrictive,” Freund said.
Only Marines who were authorized for promotion but died before the ceremony were posthumously promoted.
Officers and staff NCOs were granted posthumous promotion if they met the qualifications and were recommended by a board for promotion but died before their official promotion date.
“This change should make it easier for commanders to determine whether a posthumous promotion is authorized,” Freund said. “This has made it more consistent with staff NCO and officer policy. It’s more equitable.”
The change is retroactive and applies to Marines who died in the line of duty since Oct. 7, 2001, the date most closely associated with the beginning of the war on terrorism.
Manpower officials are already scouring records for Marines who meet the new criteria and so far have found about 45 Marines who should be promoted, Freund said.
Once the list is finalized, Manpower officials will contact the fallen Marines’ units and confirm the promotion qualifications with commanders.
A promotion warrant will then be drafted and given to the casualty-assistance officer who handled the death notification, at which point the fallen Marine’s family will be notified of the posthumous promotion.
The family will not be eligible for any additional financial benefits or entitlements that go along with the promotion, Freund said.
The promotion is largely symbolic but is still important to the deceased Marines’ loved ones, he said.
“It’s a recognition to family members that they earned the rank,” Freund said.
“The promotions will be seen as a fitting reminder of what their Marine has accomplished.”
Ellie
More fallen Marines may get promotions
Policy change makes junior troops eligible
By Christian Lowe
Times staff writer
Dozens of fallen enlisted Marines could be in line for posthumous promotions under a recent change to the Corps’ policy governing such advancements.
The new policy applies to Marines from private to corporal who met the requirements for promotion but were killed in the month before their promotion date.
Manpower officials say a Marine in such a situation will automatically be promoted.
The new policy also applies to Marines in the same four grades who were recommended for meritorious promotion by their commander but died before their promotion date.
“The commandant wanted to adjust the policy for junior Marines to reflect the policy for staff noncommissioned officers,” said Col. Lee Freund, head of the promotions branch of Manpower and Reserve Affairs at Quantico, Va.
The change shows that the “accomplishments of junior Marines are the same as those of staff NCOs.”
The new posthumous promotion policy is spelled out in a June 27 Corpswide message, MarAdmin 285/05.
In the past, the posthumous promotion of junior Marines was “pretty restrictive,” Freund said.
Only Marines who were authorized for promotion but died before the ceremony were posthumously promoted.
Officers and staff NCOs were granted posthumous promotion if they met the qualifications and were recommended by a board for promotion but died before their official promotion date.
“This change should make it easier for commanders to determine whether a posthumous promotion is authorized,” Freund said. “This has made it more consistent with staff NCO and officer policy. It’s more equitable.”
The change is retroactive and applies to Marines who died in the line of duty since Oct. 7, 2001, the date most closely associated with the beginning of the war on terrorism.
Manpower officials are already scouring records for Marines who meet the new criteria and so far have found about 45 Marines who should be promoted, Freund said.
Once the list is finalized, Manpower officials will contact the fallen Marines’ units and confirm the promotion qualifications with commanders.
A promotion warrant will then be drafted and given to the casualty-assistance officer who handled the death notification, at which point the fallen Marine’s family will be notified of the posthumous promotion.
The family will not be eligible for any additional financial benefits or entitlements that go along with the promotion, Freund said.
The promotion is largely symbolic but is still important to the deceased Marines’ loved ones, he said.
“It’s a recognition to family members that they earned the rank,” Freund said.
“The promotions will be seen as a fitting reminder of what their Marine has accomplished.”
Ellie