thedrifter
07-05-07, 07:23 PM
- People from all walks of life join the United States Marine Corps . Everyone has their own reason for volunteering to serve, but one thing they all face is the challenge of life in the military. A particular challenge comes near the end of their first enlistment when they must decide whether to reaffirm their commitment or to join the private sector.
Career Retention Specialists help Marines make well-informed decisions regardless of whether they are staying with the Corps or preparing for the transition back into civilian life.
“As a career planner, we do a lot of interviews with first term Marines and counsel them on their options,” said Staff Sgt. Renaunda G. Davis, the CRS for Headquarters, Service and Communication Companies, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward).
According to Davis, being at war increases the need for Marines to reenlist.
“We need Marines for the fight,” she said.
Davis, a Centreville, Miss., native, said that although the Marine Corps obviously wants its trained warriors to remain in its ranks, the CRS also discuss options beyond the Marine Corps. No matter what a Marine chooses, the Corps is committed to providing the tools to make that next step a successful one.
One Marine whom Davis recently spoke with is Sgt. Cyril K. Enos, the armory noncommissioned officer-in-charge and a landing support specialist with Headquarters Company, 2nd MLG (Fwd).
Enos has been with the Marine Corps for three and a half years and said he had plenty of questions to ask ranging from moving into a different job field to bonuses and duty stations. Davis was able to answer them all.
“There’s a lot of Marines like myself who haven’t reenlisted before and don’t know what they should do,” the Makaha, Hawaii, native said. “Some Marines think they should just get out, but they don’t know their options.”
The fiscal year 2008 flat-rate bonuses, which can be as high as $80,000, are just one of many factors to consider, Davis explained.
Since the start of their current deployment nearly six months ago, the 2nd MLG (Fwd) has reenlisted 33 Marines while 10 more await the completion of paperwork to do the same. Enos was one of them, reenlisting July 2.
Although the job can be difficult at times, Davis said she enjoys knowing that she is helping Marines make an important decision.
“We need someone to guide the Marines and let them know what their options are,” she said. “As the career planner, I have the opportunity to allow them to see the big picture.”
Career Retention Specialists help Marines make well-informed decisions regardless of whether they are staying with the Corps or preparing for the transition back into civilian life.
“As a career planner, we do a lot of interviews with first term Marines and counsel them on their options,” said Staff Sgt. Renaunda G. Davis, the CRS for Headquarters, Service and Communication Companies, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward).
According to Davis, being at war increases the need for Marines to reenlist.
“We need Marines for the fight,” she said.
Davis, a Centreville, Miss., native, said that although the Marine Corps obviously wants its trained warriors to remain in its ranks, the CRS also discuss options beyond the Marine Corps. No matter what a Marine chooses, the Corps is committed to providing the tools to make that next step a successful one.
One Marine whom Davis recently spoke with is Sgt. Cyril K. Enos, the armory noncommissioned officer-in-charge and a landing support specialist with Headquarters Company, 2nd MLG (Fwd).
Enos has been with the Marine Corps for three and a half years and said he had plenty of questions to ask ranging from moving into a different job field to bonuses and duty stations. Davis was able to answer them all.
“There’s a lot of Marines like myself who haven’t reenlisted before and don’t know what they should do,” the Makaha, Hawaii, native said. “Some Marines think they should just get out, but they don’t know their options.”
The fiscal year 2008 flat-rate bonuses, which can be as high as $80,000, are just one of many factors to consider, Davis explained.
Since the start of their current deployment nearly six months ago, the 2nd MLG (Fwd) has reenlisted 33 Marines while 10 more await the completion of paperwork to do the same. Enos was one of them, reenlisting July 2.
Although the job can be difficult at times, Davis said she enjoys knowing that she is helping Marines make an important decision.
“We need someone to guide the Marines and let them know what their options are,” she said. “As the career planner, I have the opportunity to allow them to see the big picture.”