19yo Brother In Law

[avionix]

I'm hoping that the negativity in the statement is merely inquisitive.  Please don't expect the worst.  The Marine Corps, regardless of any bad press Parris Island gets, will be a faithful steward of your brother-in-law's service.  Furthermore, tell your Mother-in-law to hold the Marine Corps accountable for fulfilling every single promise that her son's recruiter made.  For the next 13 weeks and beyond, the Corps will be responsible for him.  I expect that he'll come back "not-so-punk". 

Situations like those described by LowZ sometimes happen, as HQMC Manpower folks shift people at the last minute, especially these days.  The stark reality of it is that the battlefield and deployment cycles can create unforeseen personnel situations that demand quick resolution.

I was in no way disparaging.  My family has a long line of military service and I understand the things that happen.  I just thought it funny that my monster in law was so expectant of that call.  With knowing my brother in law I would love to be a fly on the wall right now.  This 13 week should take care of the issues he has with authority.  I think this is the best thing for him.

[Stoney]

after 21 years in uniform with a lump sum of under $30,000 and no retirement.  Until just a few years ago, there was no 401k equivalent either and TSP contributions have always been capped, so there is no reasonable personal retirement plan I could have been contributing to either.  It doesn't seem like a fair deal to me...

First, you wouldn't be getting $30,000 for 17 years of active service.  That figure would be more like a low 6-figure number.  I know of folks that got upwards of $80,000 grand after getting passed over for major twice.  However, I would never be able to characterize any of the compensation I received during my service as "unfair".  Most of the time, I felt like I was the luckiest guy in the world to get paid to lead Marines and blow stuff up.  I got out after 9 years, and have never felt short-changed that I didn't get any walking-away money.

[Stoney]

I was in no way disparaging.  My family has a long line of military service and I understand the things that happen.  I just thought it funny that my monster in law was so expectant of that call.  With knowing my brother in law I would love to be a fly on the wall right now.  This 13 week should take care of the issues he has with authority.  I think this is the best thing for him.

Ok, then good.  But, she should stay on that recruiter about the phone call.  They dropped the ball on that for some reason.  They shouldn't have offered him the choice, but perhaps he decided not to call.  The hardest marketing job the Marine Corps has is with the mothers of potential recruits--we shouldn't be screwing that up. 

[lowZX14]

Ok, then good.  But, she should stay on that recruiter about the phone call.  They dropped the ball on that for some reason.  They shouldn't have offered him the choice, but perhaps he decided not to call.  The hardest marketing job the Marine Corps has is with the mothers of potential recruits--we shouldn't be screwing that up. 

Stoney is right, she should work through the recruiter and see where that gets her.  It will either range from nothing at all, a few apologies first will definitely be from the recruiter, to maybe even a quick call from your brother in law.  Granted my circumstance was pretty unique and I didn't know many people at all that had any problems with any promises made to them.  There was another situation that came up later on that chapped me a little bit but I shrugged it off as no big deal, it only meant about $20K more for college later on    I meant for the moral of my story to be that it was a blessing in disguise.  I loved my time in Okinawa and every other country that I went to.  Stoney went on the same MEU IIRC and he can tell you that it is a blast, I was able to see a lot of places with the most memorable being Iwo Jima.  I'd also be willing to bet that your brother in law was afforded the opportunity to call and did one of a couple of things with it, either tried to call and didn't get anyone, called his girlfriend and told her he was there and she took it for granted he called his mom, or just didn't call.  I don't know him so I can't predict what he did but I just can't see the receiving D.I.'s not giving a whole platoon, well really normally most of a company is brought in over the course of one day, the opportunity to make their quick little phone call.  You don't get long, mine was literally like this.

"Hey mom, I'm here and I'm ok."
"Ok son, take care of yourself and we love you."
"I love you too, I'll see you when I get done."
"Ok, we'll be there, we love you."
"Love you too."
Click

About 10 seconds worth after it was picked up and you're moving out of there so there's a good chance if for some reason he didn't get an answer that he might get another opportunity to call later down the road.