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Gunners, range officers merge

So the Corps has bumped its numbers up to over 200,000 in record time, and yet it does not have enough Marines to train them. Another indicator of how flawed its promotions boards are. Why not boost the numbers on the gunner boards and start having them fill both fleet and range assignments, and phase out the range officers altogether instead of watering down the ranks?

— KnoxRJ

Leaning on battle buddies to combat sexual assault

Military leadership is overly concerned with perception and expends a great amount of resources to combat problems not unique to the military. The vast majority of service members do the right thing. Those who don’t probably would be sexually assaulting, wife beating and downloading child porn as civilians.

— former31B

I served in the Marines, and I can tell you that segregation of the sexes in basic training makes sense. Twelve weeks in Spartan conditions is enough to make your mind wonder on things other than training.

— rob6816

As a female chief with 18½ years in the Navy, I am still amazed people think rape or sexual assault has anything to do with sex or sexual attraction. Rape and sexual assault are about power, fear and intimidation. A senior instructor of any kind having a relationship, except for professional, with a recruit or student is expressly forbidden. If a relationship is discovered, it is always the fault of the instructor. Separating the sexes in boot camp is not the answer. Until a way can be found to stop these crimes in the civilian world, they will never be stopped in the military.

— ChickChief

Let us wear the riggers belt

I am frustrated with how long it takes the Marine Corps to update its orders. For instance, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program belt is the only one authorized to wear with the utility uniform. I wear a riggers belt, and it seems to me that when someone comes up with a good idea such as that, and half the Marine Corps is wearing them, the order could be updated. It’s tactical, doesn’t look eccentric and doesn’t come undone — like the MCMAP belt does. Someone in the big house, please help us out.

— supersteve0311