In today's military, and most especially those of the enlisted ranks, second chances are few and far between. I'm thinking of a particular case close to me, but will not speak of names at the moment. Suffice it to say, a screw up that occurred while the enlisted person was very junior (and at least a decade has passed by) has succeeded in stunting a promising career--one where the person learned from their mistake, made the appropriate repentance, and has gone on to become a good leader of others. However, because of this early career mistake, any further advancement is sadly impossible. One would argue that the second chance was being allowed to reenlist and serve long enough to retire; however, what more could be learned from this person had they been allowed to move forward having seen the error of their way, and what damage has been done by disallowing this?
I was reminded of this person while digging through my list of Polar Marines again. Marine X (names withheld again) enlisted on 31 July 1928 and went through the recruit depot at Parris Island. When recruit training was complete, Marine X went to the 87th Company, Signal Battalion at Quantico where he attended Radio School.
Just four months later, Marine X was enroute to China to serve with the American Legation in Peking; while there he was assigned as a student operator at the radio station. In September 1930 he was sent to Cavite to attend the radio school there, and the it was back to China to serve until December 1931.
Once back in the US, Private X was assigned to the 2d Signal Company at San Diego. And in May 1932, we see a very short entry in the muster rolls.
In June he is transferred to Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Forces in San Diego; he's assigned to air-ground instruction, which I suspect is radio communication between aircraft and ground forces. On 1 August 1932, Private X reenlists.
In October 1932, Private X is reassigned to VJ-7M (Marine Utility Squadron 7) as radio operator and plane mechanic. Through the middle years of the 1930s, Private X serves with VS-15M (Marine Service Squadron 15) on the USS Lexington. On 26 July 1934, he is promoted to Corporal and served in August begins being allowed to fly (even though he's not rated as a Naval Aviation Pilot).
While serving with VB-4M (Marine Bombing Squadron 4) at San Diego, his enlistment expires and his is discharged, and awarded the Good Conduct Medal with bar. Eight years of service marred only slightly in 1932, and therefore Corporal X is reenlisted on 6 August, and promoted to Sergeant. However, just weeks later, he goes AOL (absent over leave) for three days and is busted.
While he's busted, he does not lose his newly received Sergeant stripes, and goes on to serve with VB-4M (redesignated VMB-2 in July 1937) until another hiccup in February 1939. This time he was AWOL (absent without leave) for three days and thus the consequences were stiffer.
The loss of a stripe, and back to Corporal sounds as thought it would be sufficient to stymie any future issues. However, this wouldn't be as interesting if it ended here.
On the first of March (yes, just the next month), Corporal X was transferred to Headquarters and Service Squadron 2, 2d Marine Aircraft Group, and just four days later he is AWOL once again. This time, four days lapsed before he returned.
This time, the court martial sentenced him to the "Big Chicken Dinner" and he was confined in the brig through the rest of the month (PAL=prisoner at large). In the next month, we find out his fate.
I started wondering if Cpl X was going to be able to serve six months without another hiccup, but I already knew he served until 1946 (at the least) because of his name on the polar expeditions, so he must have done something right.
15 January 1940 comes along and Cpl X is once again promoted to Sergeant, and on 6 August 1940 he is discharged with character as VG (very good), not the EX (excellent) that is normally seen but I'm surprised that it's not worse considering all that has transpired. He reenlisted 10 days later and on 9 December 1940 his is promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Anyone else seeing a pattern? For two days in January 1941, SSgt X goes AOL again! Keeping count? That's 4 times in a span of nearly 12 years. This time, SSgt X is tried and sentenced to a loss of pay for two months, but not a loss of rank or confinement, surprisingly.
By October 1941, we find our Marine assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 21 and sporting the rank of Technical Sergeant. TSgt X continues to serve in San Diego through 1941 and into 1942. On 25 October 1942 he is promoted to Master Technical Sergeant. Does the pattern hold? I know you're wondering!
The January 1943 muster roll demonstrates that the pattern of behavior holds true. Once again, loss of rank--back to Technical Sergeant he goes. It's not long lived though, as by July 1943, his is promoted to Master Technical Sergeant once again, while serving with Marine Base Defense Air Group 43 at El Centro.
MTSgt X continues to serve and deploys to the Pacific in mid-1944 with MBDAG-45 (later MAG-45). With the end of the war, he returns to El Centro and to MAG-35. It is in October 1946 that his service with the polar expedition (as part of Fleet Air Wing 5) brings him to the crossroad of my attention. By January 1947, while on the expedition, he is promoted to Master Sergeant.
In January 1948, MSgt X is assigned to VMR-152 (Marine Transport Squadron) where he finishes his career as a Marine; on 31 July he is transferred to the reserves for retirement after 20 years of colorful service.
This brings me back to the point at the beginning; MSgt X has a record of being AWOL or AOL five times throughout his twenty years, but is allowed to continue to advance through the enlisted ranks (to the most senior rank possible at the time). While he is admonished, and makes amends, he is not stifled from advancement, or held back from deploying when needed.
One might argue that it is because it was wartime and all men were needed. However, the personal case I mentioned earlier, was also during wartime (Afghanistan and Iraq), and yet, this enlisted man was stifled at every turn regardless of glowing reports from his superiors and who never stepped out of line again, rather he turned the leaf and is now a fine example of a good SNCO. His career will end there at 20 years, and I guess one must be grateful for being allowed to retire, but what could have been achieved by this enlisted man, or what could have benefited those around him by his example? We'll never know.
Second chances, instead of "zero tolerance", often are far better examples. History is full of shining examples of those who overcame their own mistakes to achieve far loftier goals, but what of those who are stunted because of zero tolerance, and what about those who are unable to see that one can learn from their past and go on to bigger and better things?
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