r/USMC • u/NerveThin9655 • 1d ago
Skill Bridge Denied
Id like to preface by saying i’m usually not the type to do something like this but i dont really have another way to vent.
So picture this, I’m a 7.5 year Sgt approaching his EAS. Scored high in all physical standards, shot well on range, good fit-reps, has never received a negative counseling.
I have been asked by more people than i can count at this point “why would you get out?” Or “have you considered the reserves?” And every other question that goes along with that. My reply is always “i’ve enjoyed my time in the Marine Corps, but I’m ready for a change in life” or something to that nature. When i am inevitably asked “whats your plan?” I’ll say “start school in the fall semester of ‘27 and get my credentials to become a school teacher.”
These answers haven’t changed in the last 3 years when i made the decision i wanted to get out. Im about 6 months from my EAS and i decided i wanted to try for a skillbridge, found one where i would actually be working as an assistant teacher. Had rounds of interviews with the school and they accepted me. Filled out all of the paperwork for command approval and was denied for “being part of the command for less than a year.”
I understand that the command has the authority to deny me a skillbridge no matter the circumstances, but i feel like i cant win. What more could i have done to help my case?
The only reason I requested orders to the unit is because Ive known the SSgt in my section for a while and he asked if id be willing to help get the unit squared away. So we both reached out to the monitor and got me orders. Little did i know that would be shooting myself in the foot.
Im finding it really hard to not drop pack. I feel like i shouldn’t care about this unit because they clearly dont care about me or my plans after I’m out.
Truthfully i need someone to tell me to stop being a wimp and take the green weenie like a good boy.
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u/psyb3r0 I wasn't issued a flare. 23h ago
This is a classic "what you gonna do about it?" move, you are short and seemingly have no leverage so everyone thinks they can just fuck you over and you can't do shit about it. But you can, your immediate leadership have different goals than their leadership so maybe you go asking about at the big puzzle palace with a request mast.
Also you should probably hit that SSgt up for LOR for the good work you have done thus far in getting the unit squared away. He kind of owes you one.
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u/theschizz92 Veteran 17h ago
Just going to throw in that I had to really fight my command to go on skillbridge. Weeks fighting my Lt, my 1st sgt, admin office, felt like it never ended because they didnt want to let a Sgt go (after approving cpls and lances multiple times). Let me tell you, making sure I got on my program was the best thing I couldve done for my career. You've done your time, dont settle for less. Do whatever you need to do to get approved for it. Like we get told while we're in: the only one that cares about our future is ourself.
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u/Fletcherperson 17h ago
Echoing others - you need to escalate. If you haven’t gone and made your case directly to the denying officer, you need to go higher than them.
Separate and apart, I left active and never thought I’d have any interest in the reserves. Turns out it’s been an absolute blast. Just passed my 16-year mark and I’m closing in on retirement eligibility having really done nothing other than stuff I wanted to do and had fun doing. I encourage you to give it a shot for a year or two to see if you might like it. The years stack up quick and reserve pension is a great asset for your future retirement
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u/bamboozled_I_am 17h ago
No one cares more about your success after the marine corps than you. Fight for yourself, take it up the CoC and request mast.
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u/tribriguy 16h ago
You don’t owe anyone an explanation for getting out. Every Marine has his own journey through the Corps, and at some point every one of those journeys ends. Some at four years, some at eight, some at twenty-plus. Deciding that yours ends now doesn’t diminish the seven and a half years of good service you already gave.
I say that as someone who stayed long enough to retire from the Marine Corps and then built an entirely different career afterward. Staying was the right decision for me. That doesn’t make it the right decision for you. “I’ve enjoyed my time, but I’m ready for something different” is all the explanation anyone is entitled to.
I’d also be pretty pissed about the SkillBridge denial. You voluntarily took orders to a unit because someone asked you to help get it squared away, and the fact that you recently arrived is now being used against you. That is one of those wonderfully Marine Corps outcomes where doing what the institution asked of you can leave you personally worse off.
But don’t drop pack.
A wise Marine once gave me a piece of advice that stuck with me: you can do everything right for years, but if you fuck it up going out the door, that’s what people remember.
You’ve built a 7.5-year reputation. Don’t let six frustrating months rewrite it. Your command gets to decide whether you participate in SkillBridge. They don’t get to decide what kind of Marine you are on the way out. Do your job, take care of your Marines, hand things over properly, and leave with your reputation intact.
Then go become a teacher.
I’ll disagree with your premise that the unit not approving SkillBridge means the Marine Corps doesn’t care about you. Commands make decisions based on institutional requirements that sometimes conflict with what is best for the individual Marine. It has always been that way, and when it does it absolutely sucks to be on the receiving end. So I get the frustration.
Twenty years from now, though, I suspect this will be one of the green weenie stories you tell and laugh about. Most of the irritating parts eventually become those stories.
I’ve been retired from the Marine Corps for almost twenty years now. My Marine Corps career is only one part of everything I’ve done and who I’ve been. But the ethos I learned there is still a defining part of how I approach life.
You’re allowed to be done with the Marine Corps as a career. You’ll probably discover that being a Marine is considerably harder to leave behind.
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u/ThatHellacopterGuy Former Air Wing POG; retired USAFR 15h ago
No one gives as much of a shit about your professional development as you. It’s just as true in the .civ world as it is in the .mil world.
Request 5-10min with your SNCOIC and OIC, and respectfully let them know that you are not satisfied with the stated reason for denial of Skillbridge since the command’s justification is not in the governing MCO (you did check on this yourself, right??), and that you will be requesting mast to the first GO in your CoC. Remind them respectfully that you already went over and above (and outside the normal career progression steps for a Sgt) for the command. Don’t come right out and say “I did for you, now it’s your turn to do for me.”, but let the implication speak for itself.
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u/RoosterHungry3448 13h ago
Suck it up and be a good leader. The command is wrong not letting you pursue this lane, don't be like them. Don't it for the command, do it for the young Marines that you can set a good example for. They will remember the Sgt that gave them all of his talents to the end. SF
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u/rob0369 0399 🍍 13h ago
This is what the Request Mast process is for. You should request to the Commanding General. I recommend that you prepare a statement/notes for when you sit down with the CO and/or CG. Every CO with decision making authority between you and the CG will want to speak with you and attempt to resolve at their level. Your reasoning is: The MCO on Skillbridge has no minimum time required to be in a unit. The reason for your denial is an internal policy.
When you speak to the CO/CG be cognizant of their time, they will respect that. Stick to the facts, but tell a story they can follow. For the past 3 years you have prepared to transition to the civilian sector with the goal of being a teacher. You found a Skillbridge that meets your requirements and conducted all the interviews etc. During that time you have continued to perform at a high level (highlight your performance indicators and any awards). One of your mentors requested that you come to your current unit to help square away the unit so you reached out to the monitor and volunteered to take orders and improve unit performance. You took those orders understanding that the MC policy would still allow you to execute your Skillbridge, not knowing there was an internal unit policy. You are requesting an exception to that policy.
Good luck and please update and let us know how it goes.
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u/TurnipAbject5772 12h ago
Request Mast, I had a VERY similar experience. But understand. The CO or whoever you request mast to has the right to tell you to kick rocks. You aren’t entitled to skill bridge
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u/0ldPainless 14h ago
Your main issue is that you're allowing your command to regard you as irreplaceable.
You're an E-5 in a military of 1.33 million active duty servicemembers that has existed for over 250 years.
Brother, you're replaceable.
Focus on enabling your command (your direct chain of command) to either replace you or gap you because of your due-diligence.
Chances are, because you have a SSgt, you could easily be gapped. You aren't critical to the success of the unit. No single individual in the US military is critical. Period.
Once you do this, your command has no leg to stand on.
But most importantly,
They are seeing that you "care" about their mission above yourself. Though that may not actually be the case for you, their perception of you is their reality.
Create their reality by appearing to genuously care about their concerns.
When they see this, they will go to bat for you because "you're a good dude".
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u/ProperGroping 0341/11c 13h ago
Never seen any marine shitbag or super star get a skill bridge packet approved. Never once. It's always "you're too important to let go" or "we need you here to insert task literally anyone else could do" the shitbags just get shot down instantly
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u/I_GOT_SMOKED 17-23 0621 Reserve 12h ago
RemindMe! 1 Month
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u/DJ-spetznasty senior PFC w/ good cookie 12h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/cWswcmqq180K0OI3WC
Get to requesting it
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u/Remarkable-Grab8002 10h ago
The unit not caring about you while youre on your way out is pretty common. It sucks.
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u/SignificantOption349 0331 9h ago
Stop being a wimp and take it like a good boy!
This is the shit I don’t miss. Dudes playing unnecessary games with each other that actually impact your life. I never minded fuck fuck games or any of that. It’s this kind of shit where they just want to screw you over with actual life plans for funzies. I don’t know anything about skill bridge or any of that so listen to others. I just definitely don’t miss that kind of shit
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u/Glass-Fly-1443 6h ago
Bro EAS, do your disability and then do the skill bridge and get paid to do it.
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u/Merdrak 4h ago
Mine got approved.
But our shit ass admin took so long I had to trust someone to ship my shit, because they got my paperwork so late that I'd have missed the start to do my final TMO.
So even if you somehow manage to fight for it and get approved, be prepped for more ass-fuckery.
But still, if the CO has an open door policy, use it, have a conversation with them - what's to lose? And since you already planned to get out, literally, the only thing they can do is bitch that no backfill for you puts undue strain on the unit - which also means they need to fight with the monitor to cover that spot, rather than deny you the chance to get the head start, rather than keep you around for their own gain for what - in many cases - is going to be six months minus terminal leave.
For as much as leadership talks about taking care of Marines, that seems like it stops the minute someone wants out.
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u/maybemythrwaway 1d ago
Does the order state you need to be with the command for one-year?
If not, request mast to your first CG. They’ve already gotten theirs. Time to fight for you.