[blue02hd]

Sir, while I cannot really add much to this conversation, I would have to question the statistic of the 96% Marine Recon success rate. Now I just leaned over and yelled at my TMSGT who just so happens to be an ex-marine who served within the 2nd Forced Recon back in 83 to 85. (small world huh?) The best damn Team SGT I could have asked for, and yes I allow him to finish my sentences when he is fired up at third parties. I try very hard not to get on his bad side, anyhow,,,,

He immediately called bullshit and stated the same thing that I was thinking. For him, Team Week and Peers are harsh on the Marines. I need to add here that he has already served his time in SWC as an instructor, so he has first hand knowledge to share. While the Selection Process and Q-Course physically might not be an issue, (just like it would not be an issue for Ranger Battalion NCO's, SEALS, or many dedicated Law Enforcement agents) the discriminator would be the mission change and mind set.

Speaking from my own experience as a former long tabbed NCO turned Occifer, the success rate during the period I was in the Q for the second time was only 40% for those of us already wearing Long Tabs. I cannot see a better prepared group of students to successfully navigate the Q than those who have already successfully completed it before, and yet over half of my Tabbed peers failed to graduate for a variety of reasons. Some reasons were due to family, integrity problems, legal issues involving alcohol and a midget, some health issues, and of course the ever present and always loved peer evaluations. No demographic is immune to these show stoppers.

Not sure if this helps, but I hope atleast you understand that there is NO way that statistics such as 96% would realistically exist ( It's all about the math) so that number is already suspect. I doubt 96% even show up to in process, but I'll leave that to other experts here who work closer to phase of training who I know are reading here as well.