Incentives attract Marines to 'stay green'

[thedrifter]

Incentives attract Marines to 'stay green'
Submitted by: MCAS Yuma
Story Identification Number: 20031024112632
Story by Sgt. M. Trent Lowry



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz.(Oct. 23, 2003) -- Most Marines are rewarded by their command after committing another four years to the Marine Corps when they reenlist, but sometimes, as in the case of Sgt. Frederick L. Hutchison, they are pushed over the edge instead.

Actually, Hutchison's career prospects were looking up as he was plummeting from 10,000 feet, because his reward for reenlisting was the opportunity to tandem skydive with members of the Military Freefall School at the Army's Yuma Proving Grounds Oct. 16.

"I've always wanted to skydive, ever since high school, and when this opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it," said Hutchison, station recovery.

Like many other first-term Marines, the Grant's Pass, Ore., native knew about some aspects of the reenlistment process but wasn't aware of others, like the ability to choose when, where and how the ceremony will occur. Career planners have the duty to erase misconceptions, and that helps the Marine Corps retain its best and brightest, according to Sgt. Jeffery N. Guevarra, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron career retention specialist.

"There's a lot of misinformation out there, and as career planners it is our job to inform (first-term Marines) and help them compete for boat spaces and capture those boat spaces," Guevarra said.

One of the biggest challenges as a career planner is to keep Marines who fall into the first term alignment plan abreast of the opportunities available to them, both in the civilian sector and in the Marine Corps.

"We make sure the FTAP Marines are given enough information to make well-informed decisions whether to become a civilian or to stay Marine," Guevarra said.

One of the first things Guevarra said he asks Marines when they come into his office is why they joined the Marine Corps. If they have reached the personal goals they set for themselves before joining the military, then their decisions may be easier, but the opportunities for incentives -- like monetary bonuses, choice of duty station and local command incentives -- can be the deal-sealer to keep some Marines wearing combat utilities for another four years, or perhaps for a career.

"What's cool is we leave the door wide open for the Marines to be creative when they decide when and where to reenlist," said Gunnery Sgt. Terrence Spring, H&HS career retention specialist. "Many Marines like having the ceremony in their work sections, because it shows their peers that it is an important occasion."

However the ceremony is presented, Marines should make their decisions for the right reasons, according to Hutchison.

"I don't think Marines should reenlist just for the bonus," Hutchison said. "You should really care about the Marine Corps and care about your (military occupational specialty)."

First-term Marines may see boat spaces in their MOS's disappearing quickly now that the new fiscal year has begun, so those interested in staying Marine should contact their career planner as soon as possible. If they are successful in capturing a boat space, who knows? Maybe one of their officers will be able to shove them out of a perfectly good airplane as a reward for taking the oath of enlistment once again.



Sergeant Frederick L. Hutchison, station recovery, gathers his wits and lets the adrenaline rush subside a bit after participating in a tandem jump with a member of the Military Freefall School at the Army's Yuma Proving Grounds Oct. 16. Hutchison reenlisted in a ceremony Oct. 15 before conditions forced the postponement of one of his reenlistment incentives, the opportunity to skydive. Lt. Col. William C. Turner, H&HS commanding officer also jumped with Hutchison.
Photo by: Sgt. M. Trent Lowry

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Sempers,

Roger