[fintstone]

Looks like the only folks that are not reenlisting in droves are Guard and Reserves who really never intended such a large time-deployed obligation. It is obviously not due to the disillusionment with the war against terrorism, or with our leadership as many liberals would imply. Clearly the troops that are in the midst of this recognize the value of their efforts/contribution.

Fayetteville (NC) Observer
March 23, 2005

Fort Bragg Soldiers Keep Re-Enlisting

By Kevin Maurer, Staff Writer

Fort Bragg soldiers are re-enlisting in droves as the Army struggles to meets its recruiting goals.

Fort Bragg units have been at the heart of troop deployments for the war on terrorism. The 18th Airborne Corps' headquarters and several Fort Bragg-based units deployed to Iraq in the past several months for a one-year tour. The 82nd has two battalions in Baghdad and is preparing to send one of its brigades to Afghanistan in the spring for a year.

Despite a three-year period that has had thousands of paratroopers from Fort Bragg deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan, the 18th Airborne Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division are exceeding their re-enlistment goals.

''We exceeded our (2004) mission, and we are already on glide path for this year," said Sgt. Maj. Marissa Capel. She is the noncommissioned officer in charge of retention on Fort Bragg.

The 18th Airborne Corps has units based all over the eastern United States and is made up of the 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Infantry Division and the 10th Mountain Division, as well as several other combat and support units.

According to data provided by the Army, the corps exceeded its fiscal 2004 retention goals by slightly more than 900 soldiers and is meeting its goals for the first quarter of 2005. The 82nd met its re-enlistment goals for fiscal 2004 by more than 100 soldiers and is on pace to meet its 2005 goals. The division is 14 enlistments short of meeting its second-quarter goals, officials said.

''The 82nd sells itself," said Master Sgt. Jerry Johnson, the 82nd Airborne Division retention operations noncommissioned officer. ''It's a unique situation. These guys are double volunteers, and they are not afraid of commitment."

Paratroopers must volunteer to join the Army and to join the airborne.

For the first time since 2000, the Army failed to meet its national recruiting goal this year. Since the start of the 2005 fiscal year on Oct. 1, the Army is about 6 percent behind its goal.

Recruiting for the Army Reserve and National Guard has also sagged. On Monday, the Army raised the maximum age for new recruits by five years to 39. The three-year experiment will add about 22 million people to the pool of those eligible to serve. About 60 million people are eligible now.

Officials say an improving economy and concern about the war in Iraq are factors in the decline.

Despite lower recruiting numbers, Fort Bragg units have not lowered standards to retain more soldiers.

''Our nation can't afford for us to lower standards just to keep a few extra bodies," Johnson said.

Capel concedes, though, that poor recruiting forces the Army to work harder to keep soldiers.

''If they don't make it, we have to make up the difference," she said. ''It is very important for us to keep soldiers we already have because of their experience and knowledge."

Incentives

The Army is offering large bonuses and other incentives to keep soldiers in the service. The average bonus is between $10,000 and $15,000. Johnson said the bonuses help, but most soldiers stay because they want to remain in the Army.

Capel said deployments often have a negative effect on retention, but soldiers are still staying in for financial stability and because of the corps' strong leadership.

Deployments help retention in the 82nd, Johnson said, because the soldiers are using their training.

The 82nd sent paratroopers to help secure the elections in Afghanistan and Iraq. Being a part of history is a big selling point.

''Short of finding a cure for cancer, they can have no bigger impact on the world," Johnson said.