I watched a great movie on Netflix this morning call "Jarhead: Law of Return". One of the characters in the movie was a Marine Corps general. On his service uniform, he wore four stars on his epaulets. He also wore Gunnery Sergeant stripes on his sleeve. Is that just Hollywood or is that a real thing. Thanks. BTW, thank you for your service.
Question for you Marine Corps Folks
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When I saw that I guessed it was a field commission and no time to remove those stripes. 
When I saw that I guessed it was a field commission and no time to remove those stripes.
Field commission (which hasn't happened since WWII) from E7 to O10?
No, just no.
Yes, they were NCO stripes and just a laugh for a windy Sunday.
I was once asked to evaluate gun handling for an Irish IRA hitman trilogy and when they heard my reviews about sloppy and dangerous technique they replied.... that's something only you and your NRA buddies would notice.
IIRC his finger was pulling the trigger while he racked the slide etc etc etc.
Maybe it was a Comedy?
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My guess.............
johnt671
US Veteran
Maybe like Radar's promotion to Corporal Captain in Mash.
richardman1992
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That movie is garbage [emoji23].... one of my former recruiters watched it and was pointing out all the discrepancies. The main character apparently goes from being a Lance Corporal (E-3) to a Gunny (E-7) in one scene and if I recall, he said no time had passed at all in the story
ETA: the only one worthwhile of watching is the original, read the book as well. It hits the nail on the head as far as accuracy about how boring life as an 03 (infantryman in the Marine Corps) can be
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ETA: the only one worthwhile of watching is the original, read the book as well. It hits the nail on the head as far as accuracy about how boring life as an 03 (infantryman in the Marine Corps) can be
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THE PILGRIM
Member
Once upon a time I went on a trip with some KC-135 Tanker Buddies.
When they could, and they did in Honolulu, they registered the E-6 Boom Operator as a Captain.
Primarily to keep everybody together.
When they could, and they did in Honolulu, they registered the E-6 Boom Operator as a Captain.
Primarily to keep everybody together.
I think your buddy (and you) need to watch the movie again. He was never a Lance Corporal in any part of the movie. As far as it being garbage.....well that is entirely subjective. Thanks for your time though.
The Last Standing Knight
Member
Heard of but have not seen the movie.
Have no interest in doing so, ESPECIALLY now .
That pic says it all and looks like some of these stolen valor types that pop up from time to time.
Maybe he was Sergeant-General Of The Marine Corps.
(puh-leezzzzzzz)
(rolls eyes)
Just sign me as an old 0311
richardman1992
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I have never seen any of those movies after the original one and have no interest in doing so. He has a screen shot that if I can figure out how to post via Tapatalk I will do so. He has what appears to be navy seaman (or whatever they call E-2) on his collar under his service alpha coat. Don’t see any lance corporal rank, but I think my friend knows what he is talking about after having been in for 16 years lol
ETA: found a picture on IMDb that shows the main character in his service alphas and very clearly has lance corporal chevrons on his shoulders. That rank is too small to be confused with Gunnery Sergeant
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usmc2427765
US Veteran
To a Marine, that is totally disgusting. I did not see the movie but I can guarantee you that is nothing but Hollywood BS.
A friend of mine, a gunnery sergeant, went through an enlisted to officer program. Another friend of mine, who also knew him, ran into him right after he received his commission. Frank looked at his sleeve, seeing the area where his chevrons had been and commented, "It looks like you're missing something." The Marine responded, "Yeah, I used to command some respect around here. Now I'm just another d--ned 2nd lieutenant."
steveno
Member
he probably use to eat butter bars for lunch
it will get better when he trades in the butter bars for silver bars
it will get better when he trades in the butter bars for silver bars
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One thing the old staff NCOs that became limited duty officers had that no butter bars had was connections and trust me the respect didn't really go away. The Marine Corps is kinda small and the lifers have a network. Even if they don't know some one, they know some one who does.
Right now there are about 186,000 active Marines. The number of officers above Major and enlisted above Gunnery Sargent are actually pretty small
I wanted to go back and visit MCRD on the 50th anniversary of my first arrival there. My niece who had got out a little over a year ago made a call. I got hooked up with a senior DI (Gunnery Sargent) who knew her from their helicopter flight line in Afghanistan. She is the rare woman aviator with a distinguish fly cross. But, point is it only took a couple phone calls. Plus, after my visit I wrote the commanding general of MCRD thanking and commending the Gunny and got back a personal letter from the General. The Gunny then got an atta boy from his superiors. Thats how it works.
Right now there are about 186,000 active Marines. The number of officers above Major and enlisted above Gunnery Sargent are actually pretty small
I wanted to go back and visit MCRD on the 50th anniversary of my first arrival there. My niece who had got out a little over a year ago made a call. I got hooked up with a senior DI (Gunnery Sargent) who knew her from their helicopter flight line in Afghanistan. She is the rare woman aviator with a distinguish fly cross. But, point is it only took a couple phone calls. Plus, after my visit I wrote the commanding general of MCRD thanking and commending the Gunny and got back a personal letter from the General. The Gunny then got an atta boy from his superiors. Thats how it works.
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50 years later, Basic Training
May 26, 1970, I assure you there is nothing I'd like to see again at Lackland AFB, San Antonio. It is hard to believe that was 50 years ago.
May 26, 1970, I assure you there is nothing I'd like to see again at Lackland AFB, San Antonio. It is hard to believe that was 50 years ago.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
When my second son got out of the Corps in 2003 he was a Lance Corporal, My uncle had been out since 69 or 70 and was a Gunny. In 2010 they were at one of the family weddings and sat at the same table seeing how many of the same people they knew. It came to around 52 that they identified! There was the problem of an E-3 knowing first names of so many that outranked him!...Once a Marine; Always a Marine!
Ivan
Ivan
REM 3200
US Veteran
I know several NCOs who received field commissions during the Vietnam War.
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