---
title: "Why The Best Young Marines Are Fleeing The Corps, In One Damning Quote"
date: "2018-12-18"
modified: "2018-12-18"
authors:
  - name: "Tom Ricks"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/tom-ricks.md"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marines-recruiting-retention/"
categories:
  - "Marine Corps"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "News"
---

# Why The Best Young Marines Are Fleeing The Corps, In One Damning Quote

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/18990480-1.jpg>)

*Tom note: Here is the third entry in our 10 Long March posts for 2018, the 8th most-read item of the year, which originally ran on September 26, 2018. These posts are selected based on what’s called ‘total engaged minutes’ (the total number of time spent reading and commenting on an article) rather than page views, which the T&P; editors see as a better reflection of Long March reader interest and community. Thanks to all of you for reading, and for commenting–which is an important part of this column.*

“Marines are now fleeing the service because there is nothing honorable or courageous about being promoted by default and micromanaged.”

That's tough talk from [a corporal](<https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2018-09/retain-innovative-marines-promote-merit>), on the damn record. And a tip of the Long March cap to *Proceedings* for running it.

A related thought: Personnel policy is a neglected part of military history, and a rich area to explore. Who gets promoted? Who leaves? Why is the Navy so stovepiped? These are good questions someone should dive into. Often the beginning of fixing a problem is figuring out what the problem was back when it was a fix to another problem.

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image-placeholder-title-684.png>)

## More

- [Here’s why the Marine Corps is losing experienced pilots — and what it can do to fix it](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-aviation-op-ed.md>)
- [Lindsey Graham Damn Well Knew We Were In Niger. Here’s Why That Matters](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/lindsey-graham-niger-troops.md>)
- [Why Do So Many Recent Veterans Dislike Police Officers?](<https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/veterans-dislike-police-officers.md>)
- [There’s A Key Piece Of Information Missing From The Personnel Retention Discussion](<https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/theres-a-key-piece-of-information-missing-from-the-personnel-retention-discussion.md>)
- [The Biggest Problems Facing Military Aviation, According To An Army Aviator](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/the-biggest-problems-facing-military-aviation-according-to-an-army-aviator.md>)
- [The best boy in the Marine Corps, Chesty XV, is living the good life](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/chesty-xv.md>)
- [The Marine Corps’ New Rifle Is Super Expensive — And No One Knows Why](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/m27-infantry-automatic-rifle-cost.md>)
- [The Marine Corps wants yet another new sniper rifle](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-advanced-sniper-rifle-budget-request.md>)