Okay gang, here it is, read, enjoy or not, and PLEASE give me your comments — I am not thin skinned. What a sad commentary to have to write, but I had to!
Dear Commandant Berger,
Sir, I pen this open letter to you, not as any form of disrespect, but only one of disagreement—albeit a rather loud and harsh disagreement. I have followed with keen interest much of what you have been carrying out as our 38th Commandant. I have hesitated writing to you since I know there is nothing I or any of my fellow retirees can do to change your mind. We have been watching and reading with much dismay your actions aimed in only one direction—you know, and we know where that is.
Firstly, you are surely wondering who this seemingly brash retiree is writing me? Well succinctly, I am a retired Marine just short of thirty-six years—ten enlisted and twenty-six as an officer. Having received a combat commission as a Sgt during my first tour in Vietnam, I eventually retired October 1993, so I was into my 23rd year when you were commissioned in 1981. I also note from you biography we are fellow Marylanders, you in Woodbine, me in Inverness.
In 1982 I was—as a senior Major—assigned as CO of the Corp’s then largest recruiting station—Chicago. I went in as a “fireman,” my predecessor had been fired. Chicago had ninety-two canvassing recruiters; the only station close to us was Los Angeles with seventy-eight. These two stations required a LtCol as CO because they needed an Assistant Operations Officer to help manage a pool that numbered into the thousands at any given time. If my memory serves me correctly, we annually shipped around 4,000 recruits to MCRD, San Diego.
I knew nothing about recruiting when assigned to this command. However, I was blessed to have a Deputy Director, an ADPP, and two Recruiter Instructors who were recruiting SME’s in every respect—they taught this Grunt Major how to spell recruiting.
With the help of many outstanding Marines, both canvassing recruiters and “A” billets, Chicago slowly rose from a failing station to be the top station for nineteen consecutive months. Because of the mentoring I had by so many experts, including the LtCol running MRRE at HQ, I believe by the time I was reassigned three years later, I was among the select few of the most knowledgeable 8402 officers in the Corps. It was the toughest assignment I ever had during my career—including combat. I learned much about the heritage, values, and the respect Americans had for the word Marine—and about myself as a leader.
So, why am I telling you all this? It isn’t meant to be boastful for I am certain any dedicated Marine would have been able to do the same with such expert mentoring and hardworking recruiters. No, I tell you because recruiting is in my veins. I bleed recruiting. I understand it better than most—including your general running the recruiting command. I think about it often. I have visited RS’s, spoke at poolee functions, and I started and ran a National Young Marine unit in IL for years. So your new “plan”—so cagily named “Semper Fi”—where your recruiting general has asked all veterans to be “faithful” to their Corps and assist in the recruiting effort—which I know is not doing well—really “woke” me up. Pun intended. The sheer audacity of such a request is unbelievable. Do you really think the retired community is going to take up that challenge? If you do, you sir have lost touch with your retired Marines.
I communicate regularly with 100’s of Marines, former, active, and especially retired—the entire non-active Marine force are in agreement that you are destroying “our” Corps. Sadly, I can longer speak with recruiters or poolees without lying, and I will not do that.
I say this with a heavy heart, but I have recently talked to one of our super stars from the Young Marine unit out of joining the Corps. That’s all he wanted to do when he graduated; he wanted to be like me. I even gave him some of my uniforms to wear in the unit. My conscience and respect for him would not allow him to do that—he was too good for that. So he took my advice and went on to college in hopes that by the time he graduates in four years you will not have totally destroyed our Corps. Maybe, just maybe, someone will come along and right all your wrongs.
Your actions are—as you state—”in the interest of bringing our Corps into the modern society” are contrary to everything our Corps has stood for since its birth. Your push for sexual preferences for women, unisex uniforms, women in the combat arms, allowing transgenders, relaxed female grooming standards and acceptance of despicable tattoos, fraternization at all levels, the vapid attacks on the very culture of the Corps, and its alleged racist/sexist heritage is unacceptable to those who have worn the EGA. I have not mentioned the draconian reduction or elimination of combat units and equipment, the destruction of the MAGTF, or your latest thoughts on recruiting cyber experts at elevated ranks without having to attend boot camp or OCS
Enlisting high tech people without having to go through boot camp or OCS? Having never been enlisted, you cannot “feel” the rage your Marines will experience. Those two “initiations” have always been the key ingredient that banded us together and made us a family forever i.e., earning that sacred EGA for life. I spent tours as a DI at Parris Island, and a Sgt Instructor at OCS—I know the intensity with which Marines hold that honor. I took part in instilling it.
Eighteen months of maternity leave. Sounds great—the female gender love it. May I asked which Marine, male or female, will do her job while she is home with her newborn for one and half years? Let’s be honest and ask of what value is this Woman Marine to the Corps? Joins for three years and spends one half of her enlistment on maternity leave. Considering recruit training, MCT, and then MOS training, you may have her for a year or even less. Bad move general.
Allowing a Sikh Major to wear his religious head garb and go unshaven? (Update: Doing more research after a call from a dear brother, it appears this dirt bag is a selected captain, not a major. I can’t find where I got it that he was a selected major? I highlighted and expanded the pic of him and sure enough he is wearing 1st Lt bars. Sorry.) Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea what other Marines are thinking when they see him? No, I’m sure you don’t, and you obviously don’t care. Your changes are all directed towards pleasing every minority and the hell with everyone else. Is that what you mean about bringing the Corps into the “modern society?” General, that is your modern society, not mine or that of the retired community.
You are watering down our Corps, so we look like everyone else. We never looked like everyone else—we never wanted to look like everyone else. Remember the ad, If everyone could be a Marine, it wouldn’t be the Marines. America doesn’t need a second Army, America has always loved her Marine Corps, but that is slowly changing—some look at us as victims now. It’s amazing the questions I get from knowledgeable people when I am out and about wearing my Marine ball cap. You think America isn’t watching? Guess again general.
And what’s this about your comments concerning the Army National Guard recruiting our discharged Marines? Of course they do, why not? They are trained, disciplined, and understand honor, integrity, and commitment. Plus the ANG are not going woke like the Armed Forces. Another of my super stars in the Young Marine unit, a female, could not get into the PLC program at her college, so she went ROTC and is having the time of her life, getting rapid promotions employing the leadership principles she learned in the Young Marines. Remember them general, there are eleven of them in case you never learned them or forgot them.
Moreover, you complain about the other services recruiting our prior service Marines. Again, why not? But you say some of them are disappointed and are asking to come back into the fold. Did any of your recruiting gurus dig into what it was they were dissatisfied with the branch they chose? Probably not. My bet is they missed what the Corps had to offer such as pride, honor, being part of something great, and of course wearing the hard earned EGA. I will watch this action closely for I believe if you allow them a “streamlined” method of coming back, they will find themselves again disappointed by all the changes you have made to the Corps they remembered and loved.
Are we soon to become obsolete and folded into the Army? I mean they have artillery, so we didn’t need them. Is that your plan—we think so. Look above you general—what is the service of your bosses? I am sure they applaud your actions as it falls right in with their desires.
Finally, recruiting older Marines, not 18–20 year old’s as they haven’t achieved full maturity yet —so you say. Tell that to those of us who served in WW I or II, Korea, Vietnam, or the Sandbox. I know and I would “think” your generals would know what type of young man seeks out the Corps. The one we have always—to use the new PC term—vetted and made him a Marine for life. Now you don’t want him. You want the misanthropes, the gender confused, the lost souls, the weak minded, and those we know are poorly suited to the battlefield.
In closing, it appears your changes are destroying everything the United States Marine Corps has stood for in 246 years—the very fabric of the Corps. What happened to “We don’t promise you a rose garden,” or “The Few, The Proud, The Marines?” Now it appears it’s, “Come Join Our diverse organization, all are welcome.”
As I said at the beginning, I mean no disrespect to you general. I know I speak for the vast majority of the retired community when I disagree with all you are doing to “our” Corps. It seems you just don’t know how to say “No” to anything unless it is to diminish our traditional values. How dare you call our heritage racist and sexist. Tell that to four of the last six Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps who were black. My mantra was always, “Mission, Men, Myself.” Having read your Bio and watched intensely what you have done and are doing to our Marine Corps, I must place you in the category of a term I learned long ago as a PFC—Cocker Spaniel Marine! If you are unfamiliar with that term perhaps you need to read my book, We’ll All Die as Marines.”
Semper Fi General (if you can be), Jim Bathurst Col, USMC (Ret) 1958–1993
Postscript. You will probably never see this letter, but maybe, just maybe, someone will read it and find a way to get it on your desk. I hope so!
Originally posted 2021-12-05 16:31:52.
Well said sir. After 24 1/2 years in our enlisted ranks, it disgust me to see the direction our Marine Corps is headed.
I went to DI School with Sgt Black, now SgtMaj Black, SMMC. He needs to be pushing back on this nonsense and providing the utmost advise. Easier said than done, but I could not stand next to this “wokeness” that erodes the foundation of our existence while letting it become part of my legacy as SMMC. Thank you Col for having the fortitude to present our stance. You came from a direction I wouldn’t expect…..man o’man…..it became so relevant a few paragraphs into the read.
Semper Fi Devil Dogs
SgtMaj Black is hamstrung by a strong willed general with an agenda. However, from some of SgtMaj Black’s comments, I believe he agrees with his boss.
The only job that matters for Marines is killing bad guys when all else fails. Anything beyond that is fluff and outside the true mission of the corps. NOT a social experiment nor a club. Being “PC” does nothing to win battles or wars. This is why the Roman Empire fell; it lost focus on mission and will be our downfall too.
I saw this cluster #$@%, when CMC signed off allowing men and women attending recruit training together. As long as we have liberals in power, the changes made are in their best interest and not the Corps. Our Corps was never broke, yet the are trying to fix it.
James B. Long Jr
Master Sergeant
USMC. Retired
LIke many before me I went into the Corps to challenge myself and be one of the best…..I started out as a Private and retired 24 years later as a LtCol.
Keep up the good work, keep the faith and Semper Fi….Like you I will not lie if someone asks if they should join the MC.
Thank you Colonel! Well written and brought me up to date on what’s happening to our Corps. If you’ll remember, there was a major downturn in the Corps under Johnson & McNamara, when we were forced to take in a percentage of draftees & category 4 mental folks. Remember the drug use & fraggings in Vietnam as a result? One of the victims was a classmate of mine at Quantico in ’66/67, a very excellent former enlisted 0302. Fortunately Commandant Wilson started turning us back to where the Corps needed to be in the ’70s.
We are the same generation. I also enlisted in ’58. Then I was a barely 17 year old who was in boot camp when my class started the 12th grade. Guess I’d never qualify for General Berger’s Corps! Went to OCS & TBS in ’66. Retired in ’79.
M Z Smith
Major, USMC, Retired
Yes sir CMC Wilson saved our Corps and his ACMC go relieved him as CMC carried the torch! My book talks a lot about that time!
Sir, you have my respect. Going to the ends of the earth? Sure, I’ll follow you. Articulate and respectful. Let’s hope General Berger sees it if his partner will let him. Merry Christmas to you and all my brothers.
Respectfully,
Cpl Ahern
0311/USMC
Thank you sir, my brother-in-arms. I fear CMC Berger has his own agenda, I will speak to that in a day or two!
Well said, sir!
The only thing I can add is, women DO have their place in the Marine Corps and the Navy, but NOT in combat, and NOT on any Navy ships.
My Commandant of the Marine Corps was Clifton B. Cates. I served in Korea, Lebanon, and the Corps started to chance in 1959. The NEW CORPS. and the end of the old corps. And so it was. Was on the drill field in 1960, the changes could already be seen, and felt. Did my tour in Viet Nam in 65/66 again 69 70. Was called back to the drill field between tours in Nam, That s when the window really opened up. We were not making marines anymore, we were training wannabes . The more I see today and read and hear, it’s heart breaking, If CHESTY could see the corps today, he would not want it. I rest my case. May God Bless all you MARINES, past and present, and God help the new breed.
SEMPER FI GRUNTS
Gunny “D”
USMC 1951 – 1972
Marine Military Academy 1973- 1983 D co. D.I.
You only have to read the July issue of the Marine Corps Gazette to see how far the Deep State has infiltrated the Officer Corps. Recruiting Diversity, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are there written by a number of “Woke” officers. Enough to make deceased former Commandants spinning in there graves! To hear what the Chairman of the JCS and SEC DEF have said about white supremacy, climate change etc. as being the most important challenges is enough to cause one to throw up.
C.P. Swenson
Col USMC Ret
Thank you Colonel, an awesome letter, so well articulated. I guess the commandant never heard the phrase, “LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY”. Also, maybe he ought to read what “Semper Fi” really means. He ought to go to the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico for a refresher. There’s a big display with the definition. He might also re-learn what it is to be a United States Marine!
Semper Fi
J. King, Sgt., 1965 – 1971
Sir, that’s great what you have stated and exactly correct. I feel the same and I believe with more Marines talking with there elected officials this commandant will have a short tour. Semper Fi
Lord I hope so SgtMaj, pass it on, let’s make it go viral, maybe it might wind on CMC’s desk. LOL
Im just an 89 year old that joined the MARINES in 1952 for a 3 year term.Served n Korea,and saw combat. HAPPY i got home alive and didnt re enlist..
IT BROKE MY HEART TO SEE HOW OUR PRESENT COMMANDANT
IS TRYING TO DESTROY THE MARINE CORPS…
FOREVER A MARINE,,JOSEPH WONG, LOS ANGELES,CALIF.
God bless you Joe!!!
Nothing like testifying! They say the truth shall set you free. However, this truth, as you noted, will fall on deaf ears. The demise began with the erstwhile Mr. Obama, his drumming out warriors and non-yes-men and putting “woksters” in positions of sr. leadership and grooming faithful field grade officers that would ascend to the most sr. leadership roles. Destruction of the ethos of the military is right up there with the destruction of all traditional American institutions…see the blueprint of Saul Alinsky how to achieve our nations ruin. Hillary was supposed to be in her second term by now, finishing off the Marxist plan for the U.S. Trump was not supposed to happen, and when he did he had to be destroyed at any and all cost.
That the current CMC spurns 18- 20 year olds is amazing. The Corps in ’78 saw fit to give a just turned 20 year-old the awesome responsibility of donning a campaign cover and being a DI…guess that wouldn’t happen in Berger world. And realizing that the Corps has turned woke and is losing its identity/tradition, I’ve found myself on several occasions when ask by a young person about joining the Corps (or military in general )I say NO, stay away, go to school. Sad really.
Colonel, I think you have have made a good dig into the issues. You mention a fundamental point coming from this Commandant- the idea that the Corps should ‘be more representative of modern society’. He states this without offering any evidence that this has any bearing on combat effectiveness. The Marine Corps fundamentally exists for combat (sure, we do other things too). When we become distracted from this core mission, we are lost. All of this is distraction. The are aspirations of the political class and parts of society- that have no basis in fact or have been outright disproven through experience or study and trial.
All of this will be resolved in the crucible of combat and we all know in our gut what is going to happen on that tragic day. We got a taste a few months ago in Afghanistan and that is just a prelude to what is coming.
V/R
jhl
Spot on Colonel!
Wondering if the big boy alumni ( Conway, Krulak, et al) are putting any heat on CMC?
Anyone wonder why he specifically mentioned in his birthday message “we will remain an Infantry-centric organization “? Maybe because of some of the wacko stuff in Force Design 2030? Missile batteries are tge main effort? Marines killing submarines?
His ideas open up the age old question for politicians: Why do we need a Marine Corps?
God help us!
Jim Nelson
LtCol USMC ( Ret) 0302
Jim:
Thank you for sending your well articulated letter to the Commandant. I agree with you. The future of the Corps is at risk. We know how to improve the USMC from within.
Jim Coolican
Spot on col. I stand all the way with you .Never thought i would EVER be ashamed of the leadership of our CORPS BUT HERE WE ARE !!!! SEMPER FI
Maj USMC (Retired 1980 – 2005)
In addition to the letter, I read through the comments on the site. . . I have to agree . . . I can’t understand people who are adopting/adapting to the current ‘woke’ mindset . . . a cesspool of incoherent psychological babble . . . that this mindset has seemingly captured the senior leaders of the DoD boggles my mind.
Either we, the American people, will regain our sanity and stop this nonsense, or our shining city on a hill will perish. . . .there are a lot of folks within our Country and across the globe who are hoping we regain our sanity.
As LtCol Scheller demonstrated and requested of his senior leaders. . .accept responsibility for actions you take, decisions you make . . . we all swore an oath to support and defend the constitution, not to any person or ideology. . . these senior leaders have a sacred responsibility to the Constitution first. . . and a close second to the people they were entrusted to lead. . . not to those who appoint them to their positions.
I fully agree with you. I was in the Navy and made 2 tours in Viet Nam. After Viet Nam we came under Zumwalt, and he completely destroyed the grooming standards of the Navy. The Marine Corp stood fast and kept the grooming standards.. My son was a Marine and thoroughly enjoy his tours in the Marine Corp.. He still wear Marine Corp caps and anything with Marine Corp.. Hopefully the Marine Corp will weather this outrage and become again the Marine Corp we know. Semper Fi
GOD LOVE YOU FOR BEING A REAL MARINE!!! I WAS ENLISTED TO OFFICER FOR 23 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH! SEMPER FI!!!!!!
Jim , I hate to pass the buck but I for one would like to see you organize a symbolic National USMC Burial Service . Our Corps needs to be put to rest , with Honor , by Marines , before any more damage to the institution and our traditions can be done .
The America haters in our own country have accomplished what no foreign enemy could ever do .
Thank you Robert, good comment, and yes there will probably come a time in the not so distant future where we just might bid farewell to our beloved Corps. All we can do for the time being is hope and PRAY!