SAN DIEGO --
On
February 23, 2016, Marines across Marine Forces Reserve were awarded for their
standout performance in 2015 as career planners at the annual Reserve Career Planner
Award Ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California.
Lt.
Gen. Rex C. McMillian, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces
North, as well as Sgt. Maj. Anthony A. Spadaro, sergeant major of Marine Forces
Reserve and Marine Forces North, attended the ceremony to personally award and
congratulate the recipients.
“We
have to recognize the Marines that are getting out in front, doing exceptional
work and rising to the top,” said McMillian. “It's important to the leadership
of the Marine Corps and MARFORRES to recognize and give them the credit they
deserve.”
The 2015 Reserve Career
Planner of the Year was Sgt. Christopher Smith, a career planner from 3rd Air
Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Force Headquarters Group, MARFORRES. Smith and
other career planners work diligently through the year to assist Marines with
making future occupational decisions.
“Out of all of the
highly qualified and experienced career planners in MARFORRES, I was given the
honor and privilege to represent them and be able to set the example for future
career planners to come,” said Smith.
The job of a career planner often involves the counseling of Marines on
career progression, retention, special duty assignments and incentives. In
addition, they also coordinate with their commanders and senior leaders to
conduct various manpower briefs on important topics such as retention, lateral
moves, first term alignment plan assignments, special duty assignments,
promotions, separations and retirements. Career planners are also in charge of
handling retention documents and coordinating reenlistment ceremonies.
Career planners play a crucial role in the retention of high-quality Marines as
well as their placement in the Corps. With this being a priority, career
planners across the Reserve component have been hard at work to do just that.
McMillian
said that he’s thrilled with MARFORRES right now because manpower requirements are
above 90 percent across the board, billet identification code alignments are
above 85 percent, morale is off the charts and there is superb leadership at MARFORRES.
“When you have that
kind of a background and that kind of a situation, it’s tough to have a bad day
at MARFORRES,” he said.
According to Sgt. Maj. Anthony A. Spadaro, career planners are not only “career
planners” but life planners as well.
“We also have to think about the Marines who are transitioning out and make sure
they are set up for success. The commandant has mandated to Lt. Gen. McMillian
not only to make good Marines but to make better citizens,” said Spadaro.
“We have an inherent responsibility to that Marine going out the door
that the career planner sets them up for lifelong success so they never forget,
once a Marine always a Marine.”
The Marine Corps is an expeditionary force which thrives
on readiness. Skilled career planners work hard to get the right Marines in the
right places, not only to help the individual Marine but to make each unit
stronger and ready to fight tonight.