The Value Of The Combat Action Ribbon

How we doing Hard-Chargers!!!



So we Marines, value the highly sought after combat action ribbon. Specifically infantryman Marines. There are POG'S (Personnel Other Than Grunts) who also value this ribbon, however, infantryman take this to a completely different stratosphere.

                                               

There are people (Marines) of higher brass who are even ridiculed for not having a C.A.R. at times leadership positions are even questioned pertaining to infantry if this ribbon has not been earned.



But why though??????

                                          

There are instances where Marines, even infantryman just aren't put into combat situations. Doesn't mean they wouldn't act if the opportunity presented itself, just means they didn't get in contact with enemy forces.

The award  issued by the sea services for active participation in ground or surface combat is troubling for some leaders.

The criticism shows an increasingly vocal perspective amongst Marines, specifically those in the combat community. The perspective is basically saying a Marines worth and authenticity is connected to combat experience, and those lacking experience in this area get no respect amongst grunts.


Some in the military feel that it's not about the Combat Action Ribbon, however, its about being a U.S. Marine, and representing the Eagle Globe and Anchor. Would this be the ideals of those who have not seen combat???? and if they did have a C.A.R. would they have a different response and be in agreeance with the majority of infantryman.


                                       

**Ribbon Stack

When Marines, are promoted to a new position in infantry units other Marines, generally express interest in backgrounds as well as reputations that were built over time. Lacking combat experience again is seen as not deserving of respect in regards to combat experience.

The Combat Action Ribbon didn't even exist until 1969, the Navy and Marine Corps adopted the ribbon in the midst of the Vietnam War. From there It was retroactively applied to combat engagements dating back to 1961.

              

Once that took place it was extended to cover combat engagements dating from the December 7, 1941, the attack of Pearl Harbor which was the mark of the U.S. entering World War II.

                   

So let me digress for a few sentences here...

When I was a boot in 2009, we had a few Marines, in our platoon who had deployed 2 to 3 times to combat zones. These men were revered and seen as leaders.

When they talk you listen, you do not talk back and you better reply with Sergeant Rathke, or Corporal Taber, Lance Corporal Nuttle as you do not rate to just call them by their last names. Yet...

You're a boot until you deploy, first off let me explain the term boot.

A boot is a Marine, who is fresh out of boot camp (13 weeks) and S.O.I. (School Of Infantry, 8 Weeks)

From S.O.I. you're introduced to your unit where you'll be the next 4 years, 6 years whatever your contract states, which you signed with your recruiter.

So the C.A.R. was important but it was moreso about the deployment itself, see we weren't worried about a C.A.R. we just didn't wanna be called "Boots" anymore.

We didn't wanna police call (pick up cigarette butts in front of the barracks) or do working parties (a group of 8-10 new Marines go help with building up or breaking down something or cleaning an area).

We just wanted to get respect from our seniors being that we were grunts just like them but newer to the corps. We did eventually get our C.A.R. June 2009 -The Summer Of Decision-

We were inserted into Garmser, the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, once we got off the CH-53'S and made a 360 in order to provide security. The CH-53 flew around for about 10 mikes.

                         

From there it threw out a flare letting us know it was about to leave. Then it left and it got extremely quiet, I remember looking up at the clear sky, and seeing white birds fly around so peacefully as if a platoon of Marines hadn't landed.

Then it happened... In the distance 1st shot, 2nd shot, 3rd shot then the burst of an AK-47, I said to myself "Ohh shit we're in a combat zone"   ( sorry for cursing ;)  )

After that deployment which I'll explain in a later post, we came back to the states and we were still considered boots until the new Marines came to our platoon from S.O.I.

However, at the same time we were no longer boots, I even had an incident where I was walking on the catwalk, (balcony) of our barracks and the seniors who were a class ahead of me were drinking.

I was headed back to my room after the gym, and they said "Hall, come drink with us!!" boot no more, it was PFC with a deployment under his belt with a combat action ribbon.

**A Dissipating Award

Over a decade of war in two theaters, Combat Action Ribbons are less common than some believe them to be. Only about 20,855 of the 184,567 Marines currently on active duty actually have a C.A.R.

There is also a problem that we're dealing with here. When deployed Marines will at times insert themselves into patrols they didn't belong to, just so they could earn their C.A.R.

This is not only dangerous to the men around you but also makes the patrol ineffective.

A Marine who is not properly trained who joins a patrol just to have the chance to take contact from enemy fighters is absolutely ridiculous.

Those infantry Marines, train day in and day out to be combat effective literally in the rain, humid/dry heat, and snow, while hating their lives in order to be successful. This to me is the ultimate form of disrespect and those who are not trained in this area need to consider the term staying in your lane.

If you take contact then you take contact if you don't then you don't, you still did your time and just think you're a U.S. Marine... that in itself garners major respect amongst the public.

At the same time you cant talk down or think less of a Gunny, who has been in the corps for 23 years with a huge stack yet he does not have a C.A.R. within that stack. That also is a huge form of respect and you're not representing the eagle globe and anchor very well.

However, at the end of the day these are just views from a grunt. Lets get some feedback guys, I'll love to have discourse. ;)



Isaac J. Hall II

#SemperKill

Tattoo Policy Hurting Good Marines

Good day Hard-Chargers!!

Today we’ll focus on the tattoo policy of the Marine Corps. As you’ve heard before time may be the factor causing combat veterans to leave the Corps. There is also another reason that should not be underestimated, and that is the Corps’ tattoo policy.

There have been Marines who were barred from re-enlistment because tattoos were too close together and were considered to be one piece that was too big under the Marine Corps’ tattoo policy at the time.

Other Marines have similar stories, this is due to the Corps not deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan in large numbers. Once that happened tattoos became a career killer for them, even if they had ­combat experience.

Marines are now stating that their combat experience is not valued as it once was. As you have leaders saying “We don’t care that you’re a combat veteran.”

Boot Lieutenants are stating that no one cares about Afghanistan, it’s over and we as a branch are moving on as there is a new Marine Corps.”

This is partly due to the drawdown of the Corps from 202,000 to 182,000 active duty Marines, which was driven by cuts to defense spending.

Starting in 2014 Marines were required to submit photos of their tattoos for re-enlistment as the Corps became very stern about the policy.

Commandant General ­Robert Neller, explained the reasoning behind the policy. “We’re not in a rock and roll band. We are ­Marines. We have a brand. People expect a ­certain thing from us.

Marine veterans often look to get jobs as police officers, but local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are very strict on whether applicants can have visible tattoos.

This is very true as I myself was recently denied entrance to the academy due to my sleeve of tattoos.

In the year prior to the Marine Corps’ new tattoo policy being announced, only a fraction of Marines were denied re-enlistment because of their tattoos.

From June 2015 to June 2016, there were more than 14,000 re-enlistment packages submitted. Out of those, 33 were denied due to non-compliance with previous policies and the current tattoo order.

There are still Marines who believes the tattoo policy has unfairly ended good Marines careers. Men that wanted to have a career in the Corps, and re-enlist were made very difficult because of the tattoo policy.

There are even Marines, being denied re-enlistment due to tattoos even though they got a waiver for those.

Officials are stating  just as Marines are expected to meet the highest physical standards, the Corps also sets high standards for Marines’ professional military appearance.

Think before you ink Marines!!

Isaac J. Hall II

#SemperKill

Veteran lies equates to $750,000

Prosecutors are saying a former soldier lied about injuries during deployments which resulted in a purple heart and cheated the federal government out of more than $750,000, he was originally charged in 2014.

Prosecutors are wanting a five-year prison term. Stating that Darryl Wright falsified statements from other soldiers to obtain awards. This included a combat action ribbon, purple heart from there used other benefits which includes over $40,000 in student debt which was forgiven due to disabilities.

There were applications where Wright claimed to be so disabled that he could only focus on anything for more than 10 seconds. In actuality he was a basketball coach, and had a full time federal job in Seattle Washington.

U.S. attorneys David Reese, stated that Darryl Wright created an empire based on a myth system he built. There was also argument that he obstructed justice by accusing a co-worker of violating his privacy rights. There was a discovery that he fabricated order in order to get paid for a week of skipped work.

Cristina Jackson, is responsible for uncovering the truth in this mater. She actually had to hire an employment lawyer to fight off the discipline. 

Wright pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud early this year. Wright’s attorney, filed his sentencing recommendation under seal, stating it contained sensitive personal information. There are other defensive filings which suggest that Wright continues to suffer PTSD from his deployment.

Attorney said he is seeking a sentence of one year for Wright, and also that Wright was entitled to most of the benefits he received.

Veterans Affairs Department has rescinded its earlier determination that Wright should receive benefits for PTSD.

In 2010, Wright successfully applied for a Purple Heart. In his paperwork, he claimed he was involved in a rocket attack and was violently thrown and knocked unconscious from the percussion of the rockets’ impact.

Wright claimed social security disability benefits. Claiming he was bedridden, the V.A. then paid his sister to be his live in caregiver, however after a thorough investigation no such services were performed. 

By May 2013, the siblings were bringing in benefits upwards of $10,000 per month. The crazy thing here is even Wright’s mother was in on the fraud. She submitted paperwork as a nurse without disclosing her relationship Wright.

Prosecutors stated that Darryl Wright sullied the reputations of people, institutions, and agencies. Worst of all, he hurt the heroes who fully deserve recognition, respect, and honor.

A mental health expert hired by the defense had suggested that Wright suffers from a condition in which he concocts his own reality and believes it is acceptable to lie or falsify documents to match that reality. Also Wrights purple heart has not been rescinded as of yet.

Isaac J. Hall II

Semper Kill