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Episode 20: Marine of the Quarter
June 24, 2005 8:00 p.m. (Baghdad Time)
Al Asad, Iraq
By LCpl Sincioco
Revised on April 20, 2008
"Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for the love of it."
—Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)
Wake Up Call
This month has been a learning experience for me. One day I logged on to Marine Online (MOL) and realized that I'm behind compared to my fellow Lance Corporals: Mummey and Serrato. I rarely log on to MOL, maybe once every 3 months which is why I did not realize that my composite score, the number the represents me as a Marine, had fallen 23 points behind Mummey and 7 points behind Serrato. To get promoted to Corporal a cutting score is released by the Marine Corps. The cutting score for the last quarter was 1563 for those with the same rank and MOS as I am. Mummey's score was 1548 and Serrato's was 1532. Mine was 1525. The differences in our score translate to me being behind by over 3 months to Mummey and about 3 months to Serrato. Every 3 months, you get 21 points added to your composite score.
Considering I got promoted to Lance Corporal before Mummey and Serrato, looking at MOL that day served to remind me how much I have neglected myself. When I looked at the break down, there were only two things I could work on. One; was my rifle score, which is not going to happen while I'm out here in Iraq because there is no rifle range where I could qualify. Two; my MCIs. I have only turned in 5 of the 7 MCIs that go towards my promotion to Corporal. There have been many days where I could have worked on my MCIs, but instead, I chose to work on some programs that we needed here in Al Asad, Iraq. I've been out here for 6 months and I've developed 4 programs that 28 Comm Squadron uses.
Three days later, I finished my last two remaining MCIs and mailed them in. Once they have been counted, my composite score would be ahead of Serrato's but in proximity to Mummey's (slightly ahead). I don't want to get too ahead of my peers; I want to stay with them. When my 4 years is up and I look back, I want to remember being with friends, not ahead of them, for in the end the journey we take together will be all that matters.
The Marine of the Quarter Board
As I was leaving the DSID shop one evening, Sgt Williams stopped me.
"Hey Sin, I want to talk to you about something," he said.
I thought, "o-oh."
"Sure, Sergeant. About what?" I asked.
"I heard that you don't want to be an NCO?" he asked bluntly.
A Corporal is the first step to being an NCO.
"I have mixed feelings about it," I replied.
"Well, a board is coming up, and SSgt Stanton wants to submit you to it," he informed me.
"Wow," I replied for lack of a better response.
I was surprised for a few reasons. One, I was naive enough to think we didn't hold boards of any kind while we are out here in Iraq and; two, if they did, how could the DSID Operators appear before a board considering we are spread across Iraq; three, I honestly did not expect to hear about any board while I'm out here much less be submitted to one.
"Now, we're not going to submit you to this board unless you want to be an NCO."
"Let me think about it Sergeant. Let me sleep over it."
"SSgt Stanton is coming over tomorrow at 1400 to speak to you about it."
"Roger that Sergeant."
I could see my response pained Sgt Williams. While just about every Lance Corporal would have said yes to such a generous offer, I opted to think about it first. I say generous because it involves paper work. And who likes doing paper work?
Sleepless Night
I made good on my word when I said I would think about it. As soon as I got to my Tin Can I immediately started creating a matrix of pros and cons to being an NCO. I asked my roommates, Schuster and Salazar, to help out. The most obvious reasons were better pay, more respect, less crummy work. I really didn't sleep that night. My body was tired but my mind was awake. I lay there thinking about my reasons for wanting to be a Corporal.
The next morning, I sent out an email to my fellow DSID Operators across Iraq inquiring why they want to get promoted to Corporal. The reasons they gave were more mature in nature: to be able to lead and inspire lower ranking Marines better; to look after them better; to have more say of what goes on. In other words, they were textbook responses as Mummey so eloquently put. I wasn't having much luck trying to find my own reasons for wanting to be a Corporal. As a Lance Corporal I've helped fellow Marines both below and above my ranks. Who said you have to be a Corporal for that?
Undecided, I decided to consult an expert in the field.
Corporal Weller
Cpl Weller is the most senior Corporal we have in our shop (both here in Iraq and in Camp Lejeune). Blessed with age and wisdom beyond his years, I decided to consult with him. He was getting ready to leave work one morning when I talked to him.
"Hey Cpl Weller, I want to talk to you about this whole Corporal thing."
"Sure, Sin. What do you want to talk about?"
"The pros and cons to being a Corporal would be a good topic."
Cpl Weller and I spent the next 6 hours talking about being a Corporal. He had just finished an 8-hour shift and was getting ready to PT that morning when I started talking to him. But instead, he devoted his whole morning and afternoon indulging my questions. We walked to Burger King for lunch, which he paid for, in the afternoon heat. Then, we had one of them ice coffee from Green Beans Coffee Shop right next Burger King.
"I can tell you're going to have a hard time playing as the bad guy, Sin."
"Yeah, I know I will," I confessed.
"Imagine having to counsel your friends; to have to pull them aside to tell them you got to talk to them because they screwed something up."
Counseling is done to all Lance Corporals and below on a monthly basis. Actually, I have been in the Marine Corps Fleet for 1 year now and I've only gotten 4 of the 12 monthly counseling that I should have, two of them from Cpl Weller. Counseling is similar to the Quarterly Performance Review in Corporate America.
"It will be good once you get promoted to Corporal, Sin," Cpl Weller said.
"Why is that?" I asked.
"It will tear down some barriers between us, like some awkward moments sometimes."
"Like what?"
"Like counseling you. I hate counseling you."
I laughed.
"Why is that?"
"One, because you're older than me. And two, I just hate doing it. It's not like you need it. I just do it because I have to. I haven't done your counseling for this month. I think Sgt Williams forgot. Shhh, don't remind him."
I laughed again.
"I won't."
Cpl Weller had just turned 24. As far as Corporal or NCOs in general go, I have plenty of respect for Cpl Weller. He is mature, easy to talk to, easy to get along with, honest at just about every topic you ask him, including what he feels about things, and an overall squared-away person and a Marine. He never acts as an NCO who is better than those below him. Quite the opposite, he is an NCO eager to help those below him; much like the NCO he predicts I will become.
"The funny thing is Sin, even once you pick up Corporal I still have to counsel you."
"Why is that?"
"Because I'm about to pick up Sergeant. Probably before you pick up Corporal."
"That's awesome!" I replied.
Cpl Weller is going back to Camp Lejeune in mid-August. And once he does, I probably won't see him again, as his re-enlistment is coming up and he's trying to get stationed in Hawaii. It's hard to lose a good NCO, even harder to lose a friend, but I have come to terms that it will happen many more times while I'm in the Marine Corps.
Lance Corporal
The advantage to being a Lance Corporal over a Corporal is that I am shielded from the politics that goes on and if I screw up I am easily forgiven because "Lance Corporals don't know." Lance Corporals hate that phrase; I use it to my advantage. While I have daily duties and responsibilities, I don't have any "real" responsibility. In other words, if I screw up guess who gets in trouble? My NCOs! Great, isn't it? But, how many times have I screwed up that got my NCOs in trouble since I joined the Marine Corps? Z E R O. Sure, I give them a headache once in a while, but that's just one of the unwritten privileges to being a Lance Corporal. hehe.
A great many Lance Corporals can't wait to become an NCO. I, on the other hand, have learned to take advantage of my rank as a Lance Corporal. I do absolutely no paper work, I go to absolutely no meeting and I counsel no one, at least not directly (indirectly I always do). Work and fun, and fun at work have sort of blended in since I get to do programming while I'm at work. I'm one of the lucky Lance Corporal that many never were—because I enjoy it! It will truly be a mixed blessing when I pick up Corporal. Maybe I'll be like Cpl Lomba. He told me he still carries a Lance Corporal Chevron in his left breast pocket to remind him of the better days that have gone by. I am savoring each passing day because I know my day as a Lance Corporal won't last forever.
Joy of Rank
I have enjoyed every rank I've had so far. As a recruit in boot camp, I was fortunate enough to be the scribe in my platoon. In MCT, I was fortunate enough to be one of the PFCs, which got me the position of Fire Team Leader and Scribe. In 29 Palms, I was fortunate enough to be one of the few Lance Corporals, which got me the position of Squad Leader towards the end. In every case, I didn't ask for the position I had, I was just given it. I'm a Marine who would never volunteer for anything but would rise to the occasion when challenged. The only rank I never had was a private. But hey, I still have over two years to go, you never know. ;-p
Staff Sergeant Stanton
Just before 1400 (2 p.m.) Sgt Williams came on deck much to my surprise. Shortly after 1400, SSgt Stanton came on deck, a little late. I really don't know too much about SSgt Stanton since I never met him when we were in Camp Lejeune. I don't know how he came to think highly enough of me to want to recommend me to a board. He's been in the DSID area many times before, often just to check his email and to chat a little. When I think of SSgt Stanton, I think of Smallville because he was the one who introduced me to it and I'll probably always remember him for that.
I never showed him any of the programs I wrote. There may have been a couple of times when he was waiting to check his email but I was firefighting/troubleshooting something on the DSID. My guess is that he may have been impressed as to how a Lance Corporal could man the DSID by himself and when trouble came dealt with it. Al Asad, as far as network traffic goes, is a pretty busy site. I have as many links to monitor and maintain as our headquarters in Fallujah.
"So Sin, do you want to be an NCO?" SSgt Stanton asked seriously.
"Sure, if the Marine Corps has a need for it," I replied half-assed-ly.
He shook his head and pretended he heard me wrong.
"Say, again?!" he asked slightly annoyed.
"I mean, of course, Staff Sergeant!" I responded vigorously with a smile.
It was the shortest meeting ever. Staff Sergeant Stanton just wanted to hear that I really want to be submitted to the board, to clear any doubts he may have about me not wanting to be an NCO. He wanted to be sure that I was sure. But really, I wasn't. I was sure only because he, Sgt Williams and Cpl Weller sounded surer than I. And that was good enough for me.
"Sin, you have hit the ceiling as far as Lance Corporals go," Sgt Williams said.
"Really?" I replied.
"You have done everything that is expected of a Lance Corporal and more," Sgt Williams continued.
"Wow, I never thought it of that way."
"When I first counseled you a year ago I wrote that you would make a fine NCO. And to this day, I still stand on my word."
"Wow," I said for lack of a better response.
Back in the rear (States), going to a board means studying and looking good for the board. Here in Iraq, it's paper work. Since I can't appear in person in front of the board, my NCO and Staff NCO have to write something about me. So, not only is it paper work, but they have to write a justification as to why I should be selected as the Marine of the Quarter.
Company
I am technically attached to 8th Comm BN, Bravo Company in Fallujah. Yes I am in Al Asad, but my real chain of command is in Fallujah. All DSID Operators in Iraq, which means my entire platoon, is attached to Bravo Company. For the next rotation, we will get re-attached to 8th Comm BN, Alpha Company (I think). As a refresher, my permanent company is 8th Comm BN, Support Company back in Camp Lejeune. I know the least amount of people from Support Company mainly because I've spent more time with 28 Comm Squadron; the unit I work with now. When I used to do field operations back in the States, it was with 28 Comm Squadron. So in many ways, it almost feels like 28 Comm Squadron is my home Company. They certainly know about my programming skills and are more than happy to put it to good use—a smart Company, if you ask me.
Preparation for the Board
Cpl Weller and I tried to contact the folks at the Marine Corps Institute to have my last two MCIs processed faster so it would show up in the system sooner. Sgt Williams wrote the recommendation for me. SSgt Stanton submitted my application for the board to Bravo Co, in Fallujah. This whole thing happened within 24 hours (which I didn't know at the time). With a simple "yes" to a 2-minute meeting, a great many task were started and set in motion on my behalf.
The Company Marine of the Quarter
In the morning of June 23, 2005, I showed up at work.
"Sin, I heard back from the folks at MCI. I emailed them your last two MCIs," Cpl Weller happily told me.
"That's good. Thanks Corporal," I said.
"The bad news is, they didn't get counted for the board," he played on.
"Hmm, I don't see how I could win the board with just 5 MCIs," I said disappointingly.
"The good news is, you won the board. Congratulations, Sin!" he said extending his hand to shake mine.
"NO way! Are you SERIOUS?!" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I'm serious."
"No way, no way!"
There's nothing spectacular about my military record, I'm just your average Lance Corporal on paper. What won the board is probably Sgt Williams' recommendation. The combined efforts of Cpl Weller, Sgt Williams and SSgt Stanton paid off. I think they were just as happy as I was.
Cpl Weller and I went to morning chow that day. I don't remember walking to chow, because I think I was floating on air.
SSgt Stanton saw me later that day.
"Did you get the good news, Sin?" he asked.
"Yes, Staff Sergeant. I feel like I had the easy part of the deal, all I had to do was say 'yes' and you all three did all the work," I replied.
"No, don't thank me. You did all the work. We just wrote it on paper," he replied.
Now, I don't even know what it means to win the board. All I know is it's at the company level. Now, it'll go up to the Battalion level, it could mean competing with Lance Corporals both in the States and here in Iraq, I'm not sure.
The Battalion Board
I did not expect to win the Battalion Board as well, but miracles do happen. I came to work one evening to send Mummey an email and the phone rang. It was SSgt Stanton on the other line. Once Sgt Williams got off the phone, he turned around and smiled at me.
"Congratulations, Sin. You are now the Marine of the Quarter for the Battalion," Sgt Williams happily reported.
"Wow! That's awesome!" I replied shaking his hand with my sweaty palms.
Award and Rewards
In that six hours I talked to Cpl Weller about being a Corporal, I mentioned to him my hesitation as far as picking up meritoriously or boards in general.
"I have an advantage over my Lance Corporal peers. One, because I am older; and two, I was a programmer before I joined the Marine Corps. It almost feels like I'm cheating. Kind of like when Clark Kent [in Smallville] played in the football team," I told Cpl Weller.
"That has crossed my mind, Sin. I was wondering whether you thought the same thing, I'm glad you do," he said.
"That's why I have mixed feelings over getting awards [the NAM] or rewards [the board] for the things I do, because they are the things I would do because of who I am," I explained.
"And the more you deserve them, Sin," Cpl Weller happily responded.
Reputation
There are other programmers here in Iraq. One such programmer is Mr. Kimball, our highly paid civilian contractor. Mr. Kimbal is an older gentleman, I would say around the early 40s. Suffice to say, since I've been here in Iraq, people's perception of him has changed dramatically; to no fault of his own. People used to think of him as the programmer God here in Al Asad. In time, I have somehow eclipsed him without even trying. When LtCol Lockner needed to find a programming Guru guess whose name was thrown around? Yours truly.
"Are you Lance Corporal Sin?" LtCol Lockner asked.
"Yes, sir," I replied.
"Well, it would seem your reputation precedes you," he said with a smile.
"Is that right, sir?" I smiled back.
LtCol Lockner sat on the floor because there wasn't enough chairs in the DSID area while he and I talked about programming in general. That's also something you don't see every day, a Lieutenant Colonel of the Marine Corps sitting on his butt on the floor while a Lance Corporal educate him in the arts of programming.
The Hands of Sin
Here's an overview of how the programs I've written and how they are used in Al Asad and our sister bases.
If a generator or a communication link goes down, chances are that event would be recorded in the centralized electronic log I have created for Al Asad and its sister base which are TQ, KV, AQ and Fallujah. Fallujah runs a local copy of my electronic log. If a computer network [a main link] goes down, within 2 seconds, a program I wrote would immediately log the router's status and display on screen that a link has gone down also showing the router's status on screen. All main [data] links in Al Asad are monitored by a program I wrote which shows their up time as well as their down time. If a computer or phone user is having a problem and need help, chances are a trouble ticket would be open for them using a program I wrote for Data Platoon (our IT guys for those in Corporate America). If a router or a switch configuration needs to be backed up or restored, chances are they used a program I wrote which can automate backing up 40+ switches and routers in merely 60 seconds.
The day-to-day operation here in Al Asad has been streamlined one way or another through one of the 4 programs I have written in the past 6 months. There's not a single day that goes by that a program I wrote is not used; we have all come to depend on it, myself including. Al Asad and its sister bases' SysCon (System Controllers) makes over 200 log entries in my electronic logbook every day, which I have named Marine Corps Electronic Log Book. Data Platoon enters a hundred trouble tickets every month in their Help Desk System, which I have affectionately named Sincioco's Help Desk System 1.0. Dozens of network link fluctuations are recorded in the program I wrote, which I named Link Monitor 2.0, on a daily basis making a DSID Operator's job like George Jetson's. Hundreds of switch and router configurations have been saved due to the program I wrote, which I named Sincioco's Router and Switch Scripting Program.
My Gift
The self-reward I get is showing up to work every day knowing that all these things I have created are used to save people time. Time is the greatest gift you can give people, and through one of my programs I free people from the routine and mundane tasks they have to do every day—giving them more time for the things they want to do.
My passion for programming is a unique gift. It makes possible two things that are often in conflict: finding productive work and deriving pleasure from it.
—LCpl Sincioco
United States Marine Corps,
8th Comm BN, Support Co., Data Platoon
"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."
—Henry J. Kaiser (1882 - 1967)
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