FIVE

When people have asked me to pick my favorite number, I usually say “4” or “8.” I don’t believe I’ve ever said “5.” That is not to say that I don’t have an association with the number at all. There is one in my SSN, there were four in my old work phone number, and five times five is how long I will have served in the Marine Corps come September 1. However, five is all of the sudden a very cool number to me, as I found out yesterday that I had been selected for promotion to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Five. The message announcing the actual date of my promotion has yet to be released, but I expect the promotion to take place within the next sixty days. I was the second Marine selected of a total of three that were promoted of the thirty nine eligible officers. This could not have happened without God’s hand of blessing on my health and welfare, His leading and guiding through many decisions during my career, and His grace and mercy that sustained me always (but particularly when I was discouraged, rebellious towards Him, or made poor choices that discounted His presence or influence in my life).

Yes, I get paid more, but a promotion (particularly in this setting) is MUCH more about the increased leadership and responsibility that is commensurate with the new rank. In the case of CWO5, it is a “terminal” rank, meaning that it is the highest grade a person can achieve within a particular rank structure (enlisted=Sergeant Major or Master Gunnery Sergeant; warrant officers=CWO5; officers=General, though Colonel, the top of the ‘field grade’ officer structure—vice the general grade officer structure—is the more realistic). Terminal ranks carry with them additional perceived responsibility, as the Marine Corps’ expectation is that Marines who attain these ranks particularly characterize not only the historical traditions of the Corps’ past leaders, they must also set the current example and mentor the Corps’ future leaders. Please pray for me as I figuratively don this boatcloak (OK, mantle, but in the amphibious warrior tradition of the Corps) of trust and responsibility, for in my own strength alone, I will fail.

Semper Fi, Jon G.