I Marine Headquarters Group makes Fiscal Year 2008 re-enlistment mission, Corps expands

Photo By Sgt. Geoffrey Ingersoll | Staff Sgt. Damian S. Vaughn, the 35-year-old officer in charge of Combat Logistic Battalion 2's Haditha Dam Forward Logistic Element takes the oath of enlistment on a bridge over the Euphrates river aboard the Haditha Dam forward operating base, Sept. 15, 2008. Vaughn, from Gloversville, N.Y., is one of the 8,243 Marines that was retained by the Marines Corps in fiscal year 2008.  

FALLUJAH, IRAQ

10.25.2008

Story by Cpl. Geoffrey Ingersoll 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

By Cpl. GP Ingersoll
I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – Marines retook their oaths during ceremonies across the world this past year; inside Marine Air Stations and Iraqi police stations, beside the Pacific Ocean and the Euphrates River.

With 8,243 right hands raised, first-term Marines turned out in record numbers to re-enlist in Fiscal Year 2008. The story was much the same for the I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward).

The Camp Pendleton-based unit added 134 first-term re-enlistees to the Corps' total. Out of a possible 329 eligible Marines, I MEF attained a 41 percent retention rate, successfully signing nearly one out of every two first-term service members.

"It's amazing," said Gunnery Sgt. Darlinda L. Staples, career retention specialist, MEF Headquarters Group, I MEF (Forward). "I remember two years ago when we only needed 25 percent [to re-enlist]."

Thanks in part to the numbers the I MHG CRS staff contributed, the Corps' first-term retention total reached an all-time high of 35.5 percent. A record Corps-wide re-enlistment rate means that the commandant's promise to raise the Marine Corps' end strength to 202,000 is much closer to fruition than the stated 2011 timeline.

"We do know that Marine Corps end strength growth is ahead of the projected schedule due to increases in recruiting and retention, and a decrease in non-[end-of-active-service] attrition," said Master Gunnery Sgt. Marcell Hatten, staff non-commissioned officer in charge, Marine Manpower and Enlisted Assignments 6, Headquarters Marine Corps.

The Marine Corps also re-enlisted a staggering 77 percent of its careerists, or Marines who have served more than four years. Of this percentage, I MHG surpassed their mission of 185 to retain 189 of its career Marines.

The numbers are a result of determination from retention specialists and dedication from the Marines.

"We're constantly reconnecting with Marines," said Staples, from Buffalo, N.Y. "You always get those ones you can't convince, but the ones who are straddling the fence, you can turn them around ... by giving them more information on the benefits of the Marine Corps."

The benefit that takes a Marine off the fence could be job security, a steady pay check or even just four more years sporting dress blues. For some Marines though, it comes in the form of the intangibles – dedication, commitment, honor, esprit de corps.

"[I didn't re-enlist] for any other reason really, other than that I like the Marine Corps and I want to keep doing what I'm doing. It's just an honor to come out [to Iraq] and do our thing," said Sgt. Allen W. West, squad leader, I MHG Civil Affairs Group, I MEF. West, 22, from Augusta, Ga., held his re-enlistment ceremony outside the forward operating base walls, near the Euphrates on the roof of the Iraqi school he and other CAG Marines helped maintain during the last two deployments.

His re-enlistment was a result of his relationship with the Corps, and his choice of ceremony location was a result of his relationship with local Iraqis.

"A lot of Marines come in saying 'I did my job, I want to do it more because I helped my country, I want to do my part,'" Staples said. She said bonuses and points toward promotion also helped the numbers, but much of the success is due to small-unit leadership.

"The real credit is at the unit level, where commanders, senior enlisted leaders and [career retention specialists] make it possible," said Hatten, from Savannah, Ga. "Retention is produced at a unit level – this year that production has been exceptional."

Although FY08 was a success, CRS Marines continue to look ahead. In fact, the success of FY08 will bring a different sort of challenges to FY09.

"In the first week of FY09 ... we've already re-enlisted 115 first term Marines," Staples said; that's already 85 percent of last year's projected mission. I MHG is not the only unit enjoying early success, the Marine Corps overall, specifically I MEF, is off to a fast start this fiscal year.

Because of the fast start combined with the substantial reduction in boatspace allocations forecasted for FY 09, first term Marines are going to have to make a decision regarding their career options much sooner than their predecessors did in the past three years. The challenge this FY, will be to inform a whole generation of young Marines that their PMOS only has so many reenlistment spaces available, unlike years past. FY09 first term Marines need to re-enlist while their MOS still has allocations left.

For Staples, the reason for such success is simple.

"It's the dedication of those Marines who desire to stay to do their job and help out their country," she said.

• Date Taken: 10.25.2008
• Date Posted: 10.25.2008 09:07
• Story ID: 25541
• Location: FALLUJAH, IQ