USS Fitzgerald

Marine Corps was a little different: 6 months in you usually got E2, another 8and you get E3. Then it gets personal: You can be given a bad fitrep by a superior, or just be a "shitbird" and not make rank because your a FU. Marines also have a cutting score that you must get in order to be eligible for promotion. In my MOS (0351) the score was 999 which meant they didnt need any more E4's in that MOS. I made E4 in 46 months, with 6 weeks left in my "contract". Other MOS were flying through rank. Combat accelerates rank due to replacements of E4 and above due to the Marines allowing only a certain number of E4 and above in a certain MOS and if an E6 position opens, then it gets slotted with a promoted E5 and on and on. Making E4 in the Corps is a big deal, you career door is now open. Goodbye 0000-0400 firewatch! Hello Duty NCO where you can actually sit down...:-)