How can the military be so hard to work with?

Question

My son was trying to extend his service in the Marines. They screwed up his paper work several times so he was unable to get a change of MOS that he wanted. Then he was denied an interview after more paperwork because the gunney didn't have time. He has no negative on his record, been to Iraq twice and they just called back a bunch of reserves. So now, he has to get out of the Marines and re-enlist to get a favorable MOS. He is a sargent and will remain one, but
he will lose his housing for at least 2 months while things are in limbo. His Coloniel was baffled yesterday but I guess there is nothing he can do either. Does this make sense to anyone? Only replies from those that know the military would be appreciated. No anti war political stuff please.

Answer 1

This does not make sense -- something else is behind here -- because usually those supervising (like the GSgt) do care about those they are responsible for and do keep up with the paperwork, etc.

One of the responsibilities of the Servicemember is to make SURE their paperwork for Re-Training Requests, Cross-Training, Assignments, Re-Enlistment Paperwork, etc is complete -- they have a responsibility to look over their Evaluations, etc on regular intervals too. Those deadlines for paperwork submissions are known, and must be met.

So in here there is some 'overlooking' on both parts -- not just the GSgt -- but also the servicemember ... Has he gone to MilPers YET to start asking the questions he has? That might be a good first place to start in trying to understand this situation.

Answer 2

My ex husband was in the army for 20 years. In order to get one answer to one question, I would have to call at least 5+ places. They give you the biggest run around I have ever seen. It has been 6 years since I have had to be around it and thought/hoped it had gotten better. I guess not. My thought is that the people in the army had this attitude of "its not my job". If someone asked about something that was outside of their MOS, they would not want to do it or help, because it was not their job. The civilian employees were the same way.

Answer 3

It is because the military is a bureaucracy like any other. Paperwork is lost, filed, missing, misplaced, or any other number of things happen to it. For the most part it works fine, however you always have issues where people fall through the cracks and the system fails them. Your son's record had nothing to do with what happened, it was errors in the system combined with human errors. I wish I could tell you how to fix it, but it is a problem anyone who has ever worked with a large bureaucracy has faced, be it the military, the welfare system, social security, they are all the same.

Answer 4

Unfortunately , the military is like any other places of employment.... Some situations can be very difficult to get anything accomplished. I am not very familiar with the Marines, we are Army , but Tell your son to check with higher up on his chain of command. It sounds like someone dropped the ball with his paperwork. Best of luck to him, (and if he can't get it straight with the Marines, Go Army instead... :)

Answer 5

Your telling me that his Colonel and his Sergeants Major are not investigating this? Hard to believe, but paper work is a burden in the military. Sorry, but I think if his Chain of Command followed up on it, you may, and you are entitled to a answer.

God bless you and your husband

Answer 6

As sad as it is it happens. The military is run by people and people make mistakes. They lost my husbands reenlistment package so he extended to fill out another package.

Answer 7

Well its the military. they take forever doing stuff. army wife here s

Answer 8

of course it makes since. don't forget that it was the military that came up with the term SNAFU. he can collect back BAQ/VHA for that 2 months if he submits the proper paper work.

Answer 9

Some R.E.M.F. needs to lose his stripes.
Always did hate clerks .

Answer 10

Thats How They Trained.