Drawdown creates bleak future for some Marines

http://www.jdnews.com/news/military/drawdown-creates-bleak-future-for-some-marines-1.54507

Drawdown creates bleak future for some Marines
By AMANDA WILCOX - Daily News Staff
Published: Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 12:47 PM.

With the Marine Corps planning to reduce its forces by 20,000 over the next four years, the prospect of a lifelong career in the Corps is a bleak one for some Marines.

“I’ve seen a lot of good Marines that have never (gotten in trouble) and because they can’t pick up staff sergeant in 10 years, they’re getting forced out,” said Lance Cpl. Richard Dennery, a military policeman stationed on Camp Lejeune who is still waiting to hear back about his reenlistment package.

Dennery is talking about the recent Marine administrative message that gives Marine sergeants 10 years to reach the rank of the staff sergeant — where they previously had 13 years — or face involuntary separation from the Corps.

“For the people that invested in this, that put their life into it, it’s heartbreaking,” Dennery said. “The Marine Corps is a business and so they have to cut numbers, but it’s heartbreaking and my heart goes out to the people that wanted this forever.”