thedrifter
12-01-06, 03:18 PM
December 01, 2006
Infantry re-enlistment rates surge in new fiscal year
Grunts may have to move fast to ensure spot
By John Hoellwarth
Staff writer
Re-enlistment rates among infantry Marines are higher this year than last year’s record-setting pace, and Marines in the 0300 occupational field who reach the end of their active-duty service during the current fiscal year could find themselves out of the infantry or out of work altogether if they don’t raise their right hands soon, according to retention officials at Marine Corps headquarters.
During a 23-day tour of Iraq that ended Nov. 25, retention officials re-enlisted 286 ground-pounders serving overseas, many of whom were riflemen, machine gunners, mortarmen and reconnaissance Marines.
When it comes to all infantry military occupational specialties combined, the Corps has already contracted 65.8 percent of its annual retention mission in the first two months of the fiscal year, up from 58.5 percent last year, said retention specialist Maj. Trevor Hall.
For riflemen specifically, the Corps has filled 84 percent of its boatspaces, leaving only 67 of 419 slots up for grabs across the service, Hall said.
And with re-enlistment bonuses for recon Marines maxed out at 5.0, anti-tank missilemen at 4.5, and every other 0300 MOS at 4.0, infantrymen of all specialties overseas are set to pocket their lump-sum payments tax-free before many in the States decide to get off the fence.
Ellie
Infantry re-enlistment rates surge in new fiscal year
Grunts may have to move fast to ensure spot
By John Hoellwarth
Staff writer
Re-enlistment rates among infantry Marines are higher this year than last year’s record-setting pace, and Marines in the 0300 occupational field who reach the end of their active-duty service during the current fiscal year could find themselves out of the infantry or out of work altogether if they don’t raise their right hands soon, according to retention officials at Marine Corps headquarters.
During a 23-day tour of Iraq that ended Nov. 25, retention officials re-enlisted 286 ground-pounders serving overseas, many of whom were riflemen, machine gunners, mortarmen and reconnaissance Marines.
When it comes to all infantry military occupational specialties combined, the Corps has already contracted 65.8 percent of its annual retention mission in the first two months of the fiscal year, up from 58.5 percent last year, said retention specialist Maj. Trevor Hall.
For riflemen specifically, the Corps has filled 84 percent of its boatspaces, leaving only 67 of 419 slots up for grabs across the service, Hall said.
And with re-enlistment bonuses for recon Marines maxed out at 5.0, anti-tank missilemen at 4.5, and every other 0300 MOS at 4.0, infantrymen of all specialties overseas are set to pocket their lump-sum payments tax-free before many in the States decide to get off the fence.
Ellie