The XO

Posted on Sat Sep 26th, 2015 @ 1:03pm by Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Ermey
Edited on on Fri Oct 9th, 2015 @ 6:40pm

1,894 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 89 - Futility's Return
Location: Regiment Commanders Office
Timeline: Present

ON

After Hondos first meeting with TOP, there was one officer she did not have, and it was a new Executive Officer. Putting in a call to Marine Personnel, she had not heard from them and now with the USS Saratoga now beginning to treturn 2nd Bn back to SB400, Hondo was by now used to Marine Personnel now calling back.

Now 1500 hrs, while she was working at her desk, filling out reports generated by 1st and 3rd Battalion, First Sgt Ermey called from his office and said "Skipper", answering her personal com badge she said "TOP" what is it?"

Ma'am, your new XO is now sitting in front of he, and he has his Isolinear chip with him. Thinking for a few seconds she said "TOP" have him keep his seat and bring me his Isolinear chip, and when I call you, please send him in to see me."

Taking the Isolinar chip from the officer, TOP came into Hondos office and said "Ma'am 1st Lt. Friday is now in my office waiting patiently". "Hondo said, let him cool his heels for a few more minutes, and when I call you please show him to my office, then you can leave while I talk to him".

Inserting the new LT.'s chip into her PADD, Hondo was impressed, 1st LT. Friday was not your regular 1st LT, boy wonder, who just graduated from the Academy, he was by far the oldest of the current crop of 21-25 year old officers, he was in his forties, and he was a Marine NCO who had been promoted to Warrant Officer, and was mustanged (NCO who has began his military career as an enlisted), and went to OCS at an older age.

Looking through his service record she noted that Lt. Friday had once been a DI at MCRD, and rated as one of the best DI's over all of he other DI's in the corp. He also had a few minor scrapes, was given a few Article 15's, several were for drinking; but after attending drinking diversion program, he never had a problem holding his liquor. Then there was a minor issues between him an an officer who decided to show him up before his trainees; but a small trip to to the "PITT" solved the problem.

Seeing that he had served in many combat units, his last one was with a MARSOC unit over 5 years ago, and since then he had entered OCS, he had beaten some of the best Academy, and OCS trained students in many subjects.

Taking a break from he reading, she noted he had many medals and ribbons, some were for some hazardous duties with MARSOC, and others; well those were medals/ribbons for other duties as assigned.

Getting out of her chair, she thought about the new LT, and after pouring herself a cup of coffee, she straightened out her uniform, sat up, then in a loud voice "SGTMAJ" send in Lt. Friday!

Opening the door, First Sergeant Ermory stood back as the older Lieutenant entered, stopped and saluted in a crisp manner and said 'Ma'am 1st Lt. Joe Friday, reporting as ordered "ma'am"! Sitting in her chair she watched the new Lieutenant march in and salute her. She could already tell by his military bearing that this 1st Lt was not like the other Marine Officers she had met during her career. He was straight, did not slouch, and did not drone on with meaningless banter like most officers seemed t odo.

Returning the Salute, Hondo said "Lieutenant, take a seat". About to protest that he would rather stand, Hondo said " Lieutenant; let's cut the chase; when your commander says "Lieutenant have a Seat; she's not asking you; she's ORDERING You!"

"Saying yes Ma'am, Captain Friday took his seat and sitting directly in front of Hondo, she sized him up as one Lieutenant that was not going to accept any excuse from his subordinates, and as a former DI, she knew that he could handle any enlisted between the personnel in the three Battalions. Sitting in the artificial light of her office Hondo she said; "Lieutenant; and walk with me".

Getting up Hondo led the way, with Liutenant Friday now wondering about this woman who was his new Regimental Commander. Lieutenant Friday had already read up on Hondo, he knew that she was the former Commander of both the 47th SFMEU and SFMC Galahad Marine Corp Base, and her unit was considered the best at the time.

She was smart, knew more about Marine Corp regulations than many of her peers; and was not one to push trying to quote a Marine regulation, for she wrote a few of the manuals. Very literate, she read many books on tactics, and great works on battles from the Battle of Kadish, Thermopylae, Caesars Gaulic Wars, Argincourt, WWI Europe and WWII Marine Campaigns in the Pacific, she studied Vietnam War, the Middle Eastern Wars; I, II, and IV, and she sometimes wrote journals in the major think tanks on why the Marines were never used as a ground force, and now she was working on a series of Books.

She was a good tactician, was a stickler for order, with a combat pedigree that most male officers would fight for. had several campaigns under her belt. He also knew that when many officers were downgraded, they would have retired, and taken the retirement sum, and disappear. In her case, she stayed in the Marines, knowing that the Marines needed good and experienced commanders. She was known to buck the system to get what she wanted for her Marines. She was found of using old style combat fighting techniques in Close Quarter Battle, and her motto "Speed, Sudden Terror, and Ruthless Efficiency".

Among the other female officers that he came across, many of them were very good at what they did, but for some, in his own opinion; they did not have that drive that Captain Magbangan had, and from the looks of her uniform, she wore it better than many female officers he had seen in his 30 years as a Marines.

With Hondo leading she came to her own private fortress of solitude, where she could escape from the heavy responsibilities of running a regiment. The room was set with a large fish tank, a large circular table where two comfortable chairs were arranged in a 45 degree angle to one another. Here it was quiet, except for the small desk PADD that was on the table. But other than that, the room was set up in female colors, the chairs were comfortable. There was a food replicator along one wall, and a small wet bar where she had liquor (the prerogatives of being a Commander). But in the corner of the room, was a manikin outfitted in the old style Roman Army Legionnaires Armor, complete with sword, shield, and spear.

Entering the room Lt Friday was not too sure of what to do. Generally many of the male commanders he known also had their own retreat, but these were set up by men. Some had a typical male Marine Decor, with posters of famous old earth US Marine battles from the 20th to the 21st Century, battle streamers, a collection of Marine helmets from various eras, and the couches were all in black leather, but hers was very different.

Sitting down Hondo said; Lieutenant Friday in this room there is no rank, I prefer to use first names here, and what you say to me here will stay in this room. In this room you can vent all you want, and no one will every say anything, and if you want to call me a "stupid bitch of an officer" be my guess. "But I also get to call you a bone headed Jar head if need be".

Smiling she said "Joe tell me about your life before you began your military career". Surprised at the request because most commanders he talked to would just salute him, and tell him what to do, and not ask him about his life. Taking a breath, he began; and for the next two to three hours he laid out his entire civilian history, with an uncle who in the 1970's was a Los Angeles Police Detective known as Sgt. Joe Friday. From there he described his choice of going to security or entering the Marines, but he chose the Marines.

Finally, Hondo who now had some snacks out, said "Joe dig in, and don't be shy about eating, I spent a few hours cooking these small finger foods". Now eating and drinking coffee, Hondo told Joe about her own childhood, and the Marines, and for another few hours they got to know each other. Then Hondo said; Joe its time....

Putting down his cup, Captain Friday was now waiting to see whether he was going to be the new XO. Knowing that his Pedigree was not as stellar as the Academy students who joined the Marines, and had risen to the top.

Then Hondo said in a serious voice... "Joe, I would like to welcome you as my new Executive officer". You start tomorrow morning."

"I have over 30 candidates that have applied to be my new XO, and all of them have stellar pedigrees, some have had much more command time than you, some have a little extra firepower within the Marines. While and some of them are here because the title of XO in a Regiment looks good on their Military Jacket, and they can brag all they want in the Officers Club.

But NONE of those people, have the one quality I look for in an XO, "Toughness, the ability to get down to the basic Marines level of thinking, the one person who watched them develop from a lanky male or female civilian to a proud Marines. I'm also looking at their record, all of them lived pristine lives, but you have several ART 15's from drinking to brawling, were busted once or twice but hung in there and became an officer, rose through the ranks to get the rank of Captain. These are the the qulities I"m looking for in an Executive Officer. Not some piss-ant XO without any balls, and you do have the qualities to argue it out with other officers or NCO's.

"Getting up from her Chair, Hondo said "TOP", you can stop listening at the door now. Quickly entering Hondo's private sanctum he said "Skipper?" "First Sergeant; meet the 327th new Executive Officer Lt. Joe Friday". "Make sure he has an office and his credentials are in order, for Monday the three of us are going to be working long and hard.

"Gentlemen, you're both dismissed".

The shock of being given the position of XO as soon as he walked in her office was sort of a surprise, but then he stopped and said "First Sergant" does the skipper work like that? "Sir", replied Top, you'd be surprise at what she can do, and how she goes about getting things done around here.

"Now if you're wondering how that would have worked if you had not gotten the position of XO, "both you and the Captain would have been strolling around the regimental headquarters deck.


END

Milagros Hondo Magbangan, CPT
Regiment Commander
327th Infantry Regiment.

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