Embassy Duty Questions

[MrsNix]

I'm sorry if this is the wrong forum to put this question in, but it didn't seem to fit exactly anywhere else, either, so I figured I'd put it in the general area.

My husband is a former reservist-now active duty (since '03) Marine, and he has not yet been tapped for a "B Billet." He is an E-6, and we just got word that he is in the zone for promotion to E-7. For this reason, he has begun to fear that he will be pulled for recruiting duty (which he would not be a good fit for. He was miserable on RA for the 6 months he spent doing that while awaiting orders several years back). We tossed around having him put in a package for DI school, but we kinda had a "come to Jesus" with the whole family to discuss all options, and my husband felt that the time away from family after five years of constant deployment...he didn't want to miss any more developmental time with our daughter, and the marriage needs to be re-stabilized. We have been given the idea that DI duty, though rewarding, can be quite punishing to the families.

So. He has pretty much decided to put in a package for embassy duty as soon as he is finished with his current responsibilities...like 3 months from now.

I cannot find any information for families on embassy duty and am not acquainted with any families who have been through it. What I would like, if you all wouldn't mind, is stories or opinions or advice from those of you who have done an embassy billet.

I have expressed to my husband that I am in full support of whichever billet he chooses, but I feel we don't have all the information. I want his choice to be informed so that he doesn't pass up a chance for DI school and that whole experience based on a false assumption that embassy duty would be a lesser evil to the family.

Thanks much for any insights you have to offer.

[Petz]

they are only taking Sgts and junior Staff Sgts for recruiting duty now. so since he's selected for Gunny I'm to assume he's been SSgt for at least a year, so he can go for MSG duty no problem.

I haven't done it, but I know of two who were SNCOs on the duty... family is welcome, though I don't think in the rough countries... so you'd be stuck 18 months without him but would spend the next 18 months together... that is assuming his first duty station is a hot zone.

As for being a Hat, he's much to far along to be doing that... the junior Hat being a gunny sounds funny to me... he could always be an officer Instructor... I don't know which MOS it is, but it's in quantico and it's a non-deploying MOS... he could also be an instructor at a MOS school... he has many options as a B-billet.

[MrsNix]

First...Thank you for so swift a reply!

Second...He hasn't been selected, yet. His first sergeant saw the list of scores, however, and brought it to his attention that he's in the zone. He has only been E-6 for about 18 months. It is WAY early for this to have happened, and we are by no means assured that he will be selected this go 'round, but it's a small MOS.

[Petz]

oh, if he's in zone that means he will be ABLE to pick up but will most likely be in the below zone... he should have a package ready because if they look at him and his package sucks then that counts as a pass over... not good.

as a rule, he sould be planning two years out for everything in his career... so if his package isn't ready (he should know) then he's WAAAY behind the power curve.

and your husband isn't by any chance Motor Transport Maint is he?

[MrsNix]

No...we're 7th Comm. His package for the promotion is ready. He still has to get a new "moto" photo done (I think they're doing that this week), but he's running the Corporal course and filling the Co. Gunny slot right now...he's SLAMMED and has been for months.

He is really responsible and on top of things, but this B-billet thing has him worried. He's been watching the Hearst list for a year making sure he's not on it, and this E-7 thing threw him for a loop. We weren't expecting the score to look like this for at least another year because he's so junior as an E-6. He's already doing what he can to give himself the best possible chance to avoid a pass over.

Being just the wife, I try to find out what I can to be helpful to him and educate myself for the domestic side of things.

[Petz]

well saying you're 7th comm only tells me where you are located and what unit... I'm talking about his MOS 3529... anyways the Nix I know is Anthony Nix... they're probably related... Last I heard he was a Sgt but that was like 2 years ago... so.

as for his B-Billet, he can always put in for his MOS instructor... lots of family Marines do that. again there is always being an Officer Instructor at Quantico... but I think he's gotta be a gunny for that... or at least selected.

tell him to talk to his career planner... I'm shocked that he thinks he has only three options. hell he can even go MCT instructor... I know plenty of SNCOs who do that and come back a gunny... he'll just end up giving power point classes all day or being an RSO but he'll have his B-Billet and will be in non-deployable status.

[MrsNix]

Oh sorry...no, he's not Anthony. His MOS is 38-something. He worked with the huge radios.

Thank you. I will show him this when he gets home. It's possible he knows more than I do about all this, but my principal search was for information on embassy duty since that was what he talked about the most of late. I'm the one who knew of only three choices. Ha ha. Just in case, however, I will let him read all this when he gets home today.

Thank you again for your time.

[Petz]

oh, it's ok... you made it seem as though he was stuck with only the three options.... I'm sure he's aware of the others then. I feel slightly retarded... especially after reading your other posts... keep that motivation up, and you add valuable content to the spouse section and if you're brave enough to other sections of the site as well... welcome aboard Mrs Nix... hope you stick around a while.

[MrsNix]

ha ha...my husband just read this, and when he saw the reference to Anthony, he said, "That guy!" Being such a small universe in the USMC, my husband has run into problems multiple times over confusion with this Marine in various admin systems. Believe it or not...if it's the same guy...they have the same first and middle initial as well as the same last name. They were both Sgts. at the same time, as well. Funny, really.

[Petz]

yeah... I wonder if he's still in though.

you know what!!! I remember tony telling me he had issues once! something with pay... I can't recall what exactly! that's weird...

[Rocky C]

I feel slightly retarded... especially after reading your other posts... keep that motivation up, and you add valuable content to the spouse section and if you're brave enough to other sections of the site as well... welcome aboard Mrs Nix... hope you stick around a while.

I was just thinking the same thing after reading her other posts.
Mrs. Nix, you are a well read, intelligent and wonderful human being!!!
Welcome Aboard and Semper Fi to you and your husband

Rocky

[JMoe]

I'm sorry if this is the wrong forum to put this question in, but it didn't seem to fit exactly anywhere else, either, so I figured I'd put it in the general area.

My husband is a former reservist-now active duty (since '03) Marine, and he has not yet been tapped for a "B Billet." He is an E-6, and we just got word that he is in the zone for promotion to E-7. For this reason, he has begun to fear that he will be pulled for recruiting duty (which he would not be a good fit for. He was miserable on RA for the 6 months he spent doing that while awaiting orders several years back). We tossed around having him put in a package for DI school, but we kinda had a "come to Jesus" with the whole family to discuss all options, and my husband felt that the time away from family after five years of constant deployment...he didn't want to miss any more developmental time with our daughter, and the marriage needs to be re-stabilized. We have been given the idea that DI duty, though rewarding, can be quite punishing to the families.

So. He has pretty much decided to put in a package for embassy duty as soon as he is finished with his current responsibilities...like 3 months from now.

I cannot find any information for families on embassy duty and am not acquainted with any families who have been through it. What I would like, if you all wouldn't mind, is stories or opinions or advice from those of you who have done an embassy billet.

I have expressed to my husband that I am in full support of whichever billet he chooses, but I feel we don't have all the information. I want his choice to be informed so that he doesn't pass up a chance for DI school and that whole experience based on a false assumption that embassy duty would be a lesser evil to the family.

Thanks much for any insights you have to offer.

Well, I will chime in on this subject since I was on Embassy Duty in Brazil and Sri Lanka.

For families, it is AWESOME! If he puts in for MSG and passes MSG school, of course you and the kids would go to the post with him. You have your own HUGE house with all the luxuries of living like a King and Queen. You have drivers that take you where-ever you want to go, you have maids who do your laundry, you have your own personal chef who cooks your food and the rest is your time to do whatever. Schools are usually available for the children and you, as his wife, may also be able to find employment at the Embassy or Consulate. LIFE IS WONDERFUL, trust me! Parties and get togethers EVERY single weekend to raise money for the MARINE CORPS BALL and dinners with different people, because of visiting host dignitaries, etc.

You and your family would love this 'B' billet and it also gives you the opportunity to travel and vacation and shop and what ever else your heart desires. MSG duty is, if not, the best kept secret in the Corps. Encourage him to apply, you and your family will not regret it.

You will probably not receive allot of information here but if he applies and passes the school, you will receive ALLOT more information once arriving at the Embassy or Consulate.

Good luck and best wishes..

SSgt Moseley

[MrsNix]

Wow! Thank you.

And I have to say (cause it's totally my job)...my husband never met a training school he couldn't ace. His ability to pass is just not a question in my mind.

...cause, you know, he's the best man EVER.

[commdog7]

I am currently on Embassy Duty stationed in Cuba; I have previously served a post in Africa as well. JMoe is right about the drivers/cooks/maids along with the house, but it does sound like he was at better posts than I have been. There are good posts and there are bad posts. Sadly, I have been stuck with two hardship posts, it is extremely rare for a Marine to get all good posts. I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but I do want to paint an accurate picture of what you should expect.

It is a lot of hard work. He would have to go as a detachment commander- he would have to learn his job fast, and I mean fast. It is a lot of responsibility and a lot of long hours. You can expect him to be doing work during his "off time". He will likely get one hardship post as well as one good post, but that is not a guarantee; each post will be about 15 months long. He will be able to take his family with him to each post, but you can expect to make some sort of sacrifices as well. If you get a hardship post, you will not have the luxuries of the States- you will have to make do with what you got.

I would suggest that you find a job with the embassy should you both choose to accept MSG duty. You would probably go crazy if you had to sit at home everyday with nothing to do. My det commander's wife at my last post was good with sewing- she was very helpful to the Marines who needed chevrons sewn on (etc) as there were no dry cleaners/ tailor shops available (and if there was, I highly doubt they would know the military regulations). That's something that you could do if you are good in that area, it is a very useful skill on the MSG program. Anyways, hopefully I have given you a pretty good idea of what to expect, let me know if you have any other questions.

[MrsNix]

Well depending on the school and/or teachers, I may end up homeschooling. You'd be shocked what kind of socialist drivel is being taught...even in the DoD schools. I'm also pretty big into mixing with whatever community I'm in. I'm relatively low-maintenance as far as women tend to go in my age group. I'm sure I'd make due with whatever there is for us. The only thing I'd have trouble countenancing on a daily basis would be danger of violence toward my child or myself. I'm assuming the USMC would not allow us to accompany him to a place like that...but perhaps I shouldn't do that much assuming.

What is the medical like? I have several relatively benign but nonetheless present chronic medical conditions. They do not keep me from doing things and would not interfere with my being cleared to go with him...pretty much wherever...but I want to know what kind of care is going to be available to me. Are we talking a 21 year-old corpsman or are there clinics like I'm used to at the embassies?

And the dog. My beagle is part of my family and we have been very careful to make decisions that will not force us to part with her. What are the issues we might hit with taking the beagle along? I put a picture of her up on here...best dog ever.

My understanding is that my husband has started the package up for MSG today...so I really appreciate the willingness you all have shown in talking this over with me.