[justlurking]

Reading through the thread, I see that once again several have jerked knees and made unwarranted assumptions before reading the entire story.

Some have, and apparently some haven't.

I recommend that everyone read the entire story. It's actually quite complete, and much better than the usual MSM story. Despite being posted on the KHOU site, it's actually written by a reporter at the Galveston County Daily News. That reporter could give most reporters in the "big" MSM lessons about how to write a story like this.

The reporter made a point of talking to both sides and pointing out the contrast between the two.

A short recap:

• The teen enlisted in the Marines, and went for a physical the morning of 1/27. He expected to be done by the time he was expected to report to work at 5:00 PM [I presume this is a reasonable expectation, but I've never had the experience].

• The physical took longer than expected, because another recruit went to the exam center at the same time. The teen could not call his boss, because he had been instructed to not bring his mobile phone. So, the recruiter called the manager. The manager does not dispute this call occurred.

• The next day, the teen says that the manager called him into his office and told him that if the recruiter ever called again he would lose his job. The story doesn't offer any confirmation/refutation from the manager. THe manager simply says that the first time he heard about the enlistment was on 1/27.

• During that meeting, the teen claims he asked the manager for time off for the swearing-in ceremony. The manager allegedly responded: "We'll see about that". The manager claims there was no such discussion.

• The teen discovered the next week that he had been scheduled to work on Tuesday. He complained to an assistant store manager, as well as the manager's son (who works there). The assistant manager told him that the teen should have the Marines reschedule the ceremony.

• The manager claims that the assistant manager told the teen to call him (the manager) to resolve the issue. The teen disputes that, but admitted that he didn't try to contact the manager own his own because the manager had already threatened him with termination.

• After the ceremony, the teen needed to finish some paperwork and meet his recruiter, so he called in. He was terminated, over the phone.

My interpretation: the teen didn't cross all the T's and dot all the I's, but at least he thinks he made a good faith attempt to do the right thing. The manager doesn't think so.

I've worked exactly the same job, at exactly the same age. I had to work the job around my school and other activities: that was a condition of being allowed to keep the job. I never had to put anything in writing, though. Scheduling conflicts arose, but we always worked them out without being threatened with the loss of my job.

This was before mobile phones, so I wasn't expected to call if I was going to be late. I just didn't get paid. I was never late often enough for it to be a problem, but it happened. As long as I called in when I couldn't get there at all, we were good.

Somewhere along the line, their relationship became strained, and it's hard to tell who is at fault for that. The teen sounds like he felt like he was being asked to do unreasonable things, and was powerless to do anything about it.

I never enlisted, so I don't have any direct experience. If this teen is having problems with authority figures now, the Marines may not be the place for him. But, I've see how basic training has really changed people.... for the better. He might thrive, instead.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

I read thru the entire story and my bottom line is the kid failed to follow the “Golden Rule”. Namely, he who owns the gold makes the rules.

The manager said he wants written requests and the kid did not do it.

End of story as far as I am concerned.

Furthermore, the kid will learn real quick that whining is not allowed in the Marine Corp.

[Ro_Thunder]

I did the same job, as well (sacker, dairy clerk, stocker, cashier, and after getting out of the Navy, booth operator, front end supervisor, customer service manager and closing manager at a major grocery store). If someone was joining the military, we would work around their swearing in ceremony.

[TexasCajun]

Methinks the manager had trouble believing the teen’s story and thought he was being punked.