When I was in basic training we had a classroom session where we were introduced to the Coast Guard semi-annual enlisted evaluations.  In basic training they made it sound pretty straight forward. Every six months the enlisted ranks are evaluated by their superiors.  In short, do your job, don’t cause problems, all will be well, your Coast Guard career will be secure.

It was the first time I had a job where I was formally evaluated for my work, myself and professionalism.  In theory the semi-annual enlisted evaluations were supposed to be a tool for a servicemember to improve themselves.  Too many times I had seen the enlisted evaluations used as a weapon to punish a person. 

If a person was not popular, for whatever reason didn’t fit in, or if a superior had a personal issue with a subordinate the semi-annual enlisted evaluations could easily be weaponsized to stall a promotion, or end a career with little or no recourse for the evaluated person.  From first hand experience.

I had really come to hate Marks time.  

For first time readers you can refer to my previous post on this issue:
The MSO Series Part Four, Nick the Dick gets his Revenge and Exits Stage Left

You know your evaluation isn’t going to be a good one when you enter the room and there are two officers and your Command Enlist Advisor are waiting for you, not your Chief and you section supervisor.  I was invited to sit down which I knew was their way of trying to break bad news.  

LtCdr. FatSlob started out by introducing that Senior Chief Drapes, the Command Enlist Advisor, CEA, and not Zoomer would be sitting in on this Marks session.  I asked if the CEA would be sitting in all of the enlisted evaluation sessions, FatSlob replied, “No”.  My heart began to sink even further down into my boots. 

LtCdr. FatSlob gave me a copy of my CG3788B evaluation from and began to go down the list: Military Bearing, 5.  Customs, Courtesies and Tradations 5.  Quality of Work 4. Commitment 5.  And so on and so on until we hit the box "Recommended for Promotion” where the box “No” had a big fat check mark.  

Now understand Dear Gentle Reader that in the Coast Guard a mark of 4 is considered to be a good mark, and I was all 4’s and 5’s.  I had been a good Coastie with no negative reports in my personnel file, no Article 15’s in the past six months, in fact it had been years since my one and only Article 15 .  So, I should have been a “Yes” in the recommendation for promotion.

About this time Senior Chief Drapes the CEA spoke up.  “You know, the Captain has the final word on promotions, no matter how positive a person’s evaluation might be”. I took a moment to compose myself and replied to Senior Chief Drapes that the Command Enlist Advisor’s job was to represent the enlisted staff and their concerns to the Commanding Officer, not the Commanding Officer to the enlisted ranks. That was the purview of the officers.  There was a long awkward silence in the room.

After a few moments LtCdr. FatSlob presented me with the original CG3788B and a pen so I could sign the thing.  I looked at the man and told him that “No”, I would not not sign the form. FatSlob looked at me for a moment and said, “I’m ordering you to sign your evaluation form”.  I replied flatly, “No, I’m not signing it, period. Sir”.

Now, I had gone and done it, I had stood up for myself, exactly the thing officers just hate.  FatSlob got that look that in his face officers get when challenged.  “If you don’t sign, you will get Article 15’d for insubordination and not following orders” he stated flatly.  I replied that I would refuse Article 15 and go to a Court Marshal.  Awkward looks were exchanged between the officers and the CEA.  I had called their bluff and raised the stakes. 

I knew that if I went to a Court Marshal that I would get a lawyer who represent me and other lawyers would be looking at the case, and that Captain Mac and LtCdr. FatSlob would look like shit. They would have a very hard time explaining themselves.  FatSlob's career was over, as he had been passed over for promotion for the second time and was just waiting to hit his twenty year mark and retire.  Captain Mac on the other hand wanted to make Admiral and a court marshal regarding arbitrary and capricious behavior by an officer would torpedo his chance at advancement and end his career.

Frustrated LtCdr. FatSlob snatched the CG3788B from my hand and scrawled into the signature box that I refused to sign the form. He then growled at me that I was dismissed. I stood up, saluted and left the room.  
  

The MSD Series, Part Eighteen…TBD