Marines make value judgments all the time. These are based on experience and training and they are usually done once and the object of the judgment is then forever classified. This sort of organization is sometimes called labeling or stereotyping or profiling when applied to people. It is typically called categorizing when applied to things. (All terms are equally good in this case; Marines don't worry about your poor little politically correct feelings.)
When Marines don't like something or someone we normally refer to it or them with words best not repeated here. But on the other hand, one of the best stamps of approval that can be handed out by a Marine is to call something or someone a good piece of gear. (Usually followed up by the sage advice that it should be laminated and taken to the field with a dummy cord tied to it.) You see, everything relates back to how we can use it. If something or someone is useful and will help when you're out in the field it becomes a good piece of gear. Your life on the battlefield often depends on the gear you have. I'm not talking about the useless, bulky, weighs-a-friggin'-ton body armor that Congress went out and bought for us. Or the desert goggles that trap sand inside your eyeballs. Or the stupid ID card that has an embedded microchip apparently designed to lose your security certificates at the worst possible time. I'm talking about the really good stuff like claymore mines, det cord, and long MRE spoons. The good gear gets used, the bad gear gets tossed aside.
This will help you in your life. There is good gear out there that you need to keep. Remote controls, wives, and future scapegoats at work if your company is financially shaky are some things that come to mind first. But if you see that something is just plain useless I advise you to return it to Supply or blow it in place. There'll be less headaches down the road. Trust me.
