Requesting combat stories from occ fields 43XX’s and 46XX’s

First lieutenant James Mercure is requesting your personal stories from combat within the legacy 43XX, 46XX Occ field to help train our Marines (and future Marines) for combat and as a forcing function/evidence for an additional formal combat training requirement for Marines in the 45XX field before a deployment. Questionnaire is here.

In the legacy 43XX, 46XX MOSs, there was often a significant disparity between training before a deployment and the expectations of the Marine while deployed i.e. the Marines were not prepared prior to a deployment and some were labeled incompetent because they were not properly trained or integrated with the unit prior to deploying. Some Marines also adapted to their environment and were successful operating under fire based on their own initiative, intuition and instinct.  This is a success story for that Marine, but it should not be on the individual to “figure it out” when lives are on the line.  Also, a firefight should not be the first occasion a Marine thinks about what to grab; their rifle or camera?

The “first to go, last to know” mantra sounds a lot like poor planning codified.

The document attached to this email is a questionnaire for the combat veterans within the legacy 43XX,46XX Occ field. Your responses can be as long as needed, and as realistic as needed. I understand these can be deeply personal stories and it may be difficult to talk about what may be the worst day of your life. I understand completely, but we don’t want the hard lessons learned by you (or Marines you have worked with in the past) to leave with you when you get out or retire. That will force Marines years from now to relearn lessons potentially at the expense of their limbs, lives or reputation and we want to set up the future force for success.

I realize a lot of our former combat veterans have retired or left active service, but if you are friends with them on social media, please reach out to them so they can add their input. Or send me their contact info and I will reach out to them. Once I have all the input from this questionnaire, I will crunch the numbers, analyze the data and put out  several products from the information, including: Tactical Decision Games, PME for DINFOS/ Fleet indoc training, and to provide evidence that our Occ field needs to have training commensurate with the unit they are deploying with e.g. if they are kicking in doors with the grunts on deployment, they should have gone to ITX with that unit (or at least have the training).

I specifically did not send this out on a Surveymonkey (or equivalent) questionnaire, because I have seen that most people write less on those than a word document if given the option. I want you to feel comfortable to write as much as you want.

Due date Wednesday, March 20. If more time is needed please let me know and please forward this document to anyone I have missed.

I sincerely thank you for your time and attention. Please let me know if you have questions.

Semper Fidelis,
1stLt James Mercure
II MEF Communication Strategy and Operations Production and Engagement OIC
(910) 449-9923