Is there some kind of cult associated with the commie Carlson?
It seems that a handful of the most committed of commies that I know were once Marines.
The vast majority of jarheads that I know are not.

Are you asking about Tucker or Evans Carslon ?

Evans Carlson.
As in "he may be red, but he isn't yellow " Carlson.

I think he pretty much removed all suspicion from himself in the second part of his career. No question he was open minded enough to pick things from the ChiCom army that "worked" better than the status quo at the time

I watched the casualty figures in the VFW magazine all through Iraq and Afghanistan. Army casualty figures were mostly E6 and above, jarheads tended toward lowered enlisted.
Didn't seem right to me.

Most marines aren't smart enough to make rank very quickly.

That and the army likes time served promotions and participation trophies.

Seemed to me that Army says follow me and others said go do that.

I suspect it all depends on the size of the unit,the TO&E of that unit,and how many slots open up and how quickly that happens. Obviously there area lot more slots in the army just because it is larger than the Corps.

But Time in service and time in grade recently changed in the corps

I made E4 In 18 months. I guess If I would have been in the army I would have made It In 6 months. Or maybe I should say I would have been given it.

I made E4 in 15 months, but there wasn't anyone shooting at me in Germany in'84 .
Doesn't explain the disparity in philosophy between our mutual friend who was a Marine engineer Lieutenant in Vietnam and another that I know who was a Marine linguist at the same time.

I was replying to White's comment about us not being smart enough.

We had to go before a board of review for our E-4 if under 24 months time in service do to limited slots available back in the early 80's.

My son who spent a few tours in the sand box said field promotions were quite common, but those that got it for just being there, didn't get the same respect. He turned down his E-5 so he wouldn't get stuck in the shop seeing as he preferred flight time.

1968 US Army E4 in four months. Anyone with a grade of 90% or better coming out of the survey school was made E4. Had several friends (survey) that made E6 in less than 18 months. Took me 22 months to make E5.

I made E4 in 18 months which was quicker then average at the time and that included a combat tour

Enlisted in the USMC as an E-1, 15 months later E-5. IMO making rank quickly is best in the Marine Corps during conflict. Worse during peacetime.

Well...neither are exactly known as being the brightest....

I would just like to tell all of you guys that have been it are still in the armed forces thank you for your service. You guys have sacrificed so much for us and you don't get near the respect for it that you deserve

It took me 30 months to make E-4. Making rank was tough in the early fifties.

Jarhead

Winner for post of the thread.

I wholeheartedly agree with respect to all who have served.