Meritorious vs Regular promotion

[waitinferage21]

So, i'm going on boards all this month to hopefully pick up meritorious on sept 2. Though if I don't get it i'm still going to pick up on Oct 1st. Just curious on how much will a meritorious promotion help me in the long run?

[Mxzero]

It'll look good if you go on another meritorious board for whatever the next rank is. Other then that, not really. But it probably would look a little better at first impression if you go to another command.

[USMC-SSGT]

It is a VERY big deal. If you were meritorious Lance and find yourself on a Cpl board it already gives you an edge on the board because you have proven yourself once. There are other instances as well where it will come in handy. The only interesting part is I am not sure how it works out with a promotion on the 1st and a meritorious on the 2nd. I know there is some difficulty there where the Corps will run your warrant on the 1st automatically and then it would not be possible to meritoriously promote you to a rank you already hold. I have heard of that issue a few times and am not sure how they worked it out. Sure it can be done, I have no idea.

Source: I was meritorious LCpl, Cpl and Sgt. LCpl was from MOS school based on class standing and the other two were boards.

[advanced]

I picked up meritorious Cpl because we ran out of NCO's after Hue City.

[cucinae5]

I was mertirious Lcpl and Cpl.. nothing reallly changes, you just pick up rank faster than your peers. Your command also looks at you with high standards. Same with new commands as someone else mention. It also gives you the edge over your peers to make the next rank faster obviously.

When I was a lance and got meritirious cpl it but me a few months ahead of my peers and I ended up picking up Sgt before anyone else I went in with. Was a big deal to me because I came in as a private and most of the other guys I came in with per already pfc's for referrals and stuff.

[USMC-SSGT]

Ill echo what others have said. It is a great sense of self pride and (most) others respect what you have earned. For the ones that could never be nominated for a board they will call you a "board" Marine and tell you how they detest boards and those who go on them.

To be on a board your shop has to hand pick you and only you to go up to company level. From company level you have to be hand selected out of the other shops to be put up to Bn level. From there you have to be hand picked by a panel to be Meritoriously promoted (that is if it isnt a higher level board). To think about all you went through and all the hard work you put in is something to be proud of. It takes a lot of work and self pride to be competitive in those boards and one should be honored to even be considered.

Even if you dont get put up for the board but you are at least considered you should take pride in the fact that your shop/unit considers you an asset and a solid Marine.

[LandsNGrooves]

Am I the only one who thinks current met pro board hijinks are a terrible gauge of actual leadership?

[waitinferage21]

It's no worse than waiting for a cutting score though, nothing there really shows leadership. At least on a board someone looks at ya Well i guess you can get non rec'd in your shop but still.

[LandsNGrooves]

that last point is what I'm talking about. Your shop see's you everyday, not just when your doing your charlie chaplain for the CO and his goons.

[MOS4429]

So, i'm going on boards all this month to hopefully pick up meritorious on sept 2. Though if I don't get it i'm still going to pick up on Oct 1st. Just curious on how much will a meritorious promotion help me in the long run?

Being put up on the board usually is a recognition of one's leadership traits, dedication to duty, esprit de corps. I say usually because there are exceptions to every rule.

Picking up meritorious Cpl may enhance your opportunities for Sgt, whether meritorious or time in grade. Generally speaking, those put up for meritorious promotion have higher pro and con marks as well.

I picked up meritorious out of boot camp, and that was a factor looked at when my first duty assignment came into play that got me a more choice location.

Also was promoted meritoriously to Cpl and Sgt, which helped my promotion to SSgt in a hair over 6 years.

Overall it is good! Be aware, some of your peers won't like it. Some may call you a kiss azz, etc. It goes with the territory. But if you have true leadership qualities, in short order they come around and will respect you.

[R Landry]

Ha ha, I got a meritorious E-4 because of my work as a cook for an amphibious tractor unit at Cherry Point (as best as I can remember) as a reservist during summer camp. Even after I made 30 gallons of chicken gravy with margarine instead of butter -- it turned green and I had to use a quart of food coloring to get it 'right'.

[SSgtRSD]

In regards to Landsngrooves post about your shop knowing your true colors. Very true, however it is usually at the Platoon level where meritorious packages begin or are recommended. Of course there are exceptions as always. It us a double sided coin. The true mission of leadership regarding developing the Marines in his/her charge is to forge them into "meritorious" or exceedingly well rounded Marines. It is also the responsibility to ensure free promotions aren't being handed out, which will protect the standard/image of a meritoriously promoted Marine.

[rufus1]

I received Meritorious Cpl and had a Meritorious Mast but I had to really produce to get what I got and am thankful that I had a staff NCO that seen what I was doing. I don't know if anyone ever looked at it after I got it or not and can not say if it helped me out any. One thing for sure I do not think it hurt me!

[USMC-SSGT]

Am I the only one who thinks current met pro board hijinks are a terrible gauge of actual leadership?

I have never seen a Marine get put up for a board that was not the complete (or close to it) package. At least the way it was in my BN, the shop had to recommend you up to company and from there you worked your way up to the actual board.

If someone in your shop did not think you were "worthy" you would not be seeing even the company level let alone the BN level board where the promotion actually happened. If you were non rec'd you would be ineligible for the board.

[MD8724]

I have never seen a Marine get put up for a board that was not the complete (or close to it) package. At least the way it was in my BN, the shop had to recommend you up to company and from there you worked your way up to the actual board.

If someone in your shop did not think you were "worthy" you would not be seeing even the company level let alone the BN level board where the promotion actually happened. If you were non rec'd you would be ineligible for the board.

Once had a boot FM get meritoriously promoted. She walked into our MSgts office (Also FM) and walked out 10 minutes later. That concluded the board.