Military Has No Recruiting Problems?

[LynnsABCs]

[widebody911]

Yet just a few days ago, there was a discussion here about how re-enlistments were "through the roof" Hmm.

[nostatic]

Originally posted by widebody911
Yet just a few days ago, there was a discussion here about how re-enlistments were "through the roof" Hmm.

yeah, but enlistments is on the 2nd floor. They were talking about the roof of the *1st* floor...

[rcm]

What ever happened to the draft?

[rcecale]

Originally posted by widebody911
Yet just a few days ago, there was a discussion here about how re-enlistments were "through the roof" Hmm.

Well, unfortunately, you can't enlist "experienced" soldiers.

No matter what your feelings about this war are, sending hundreds of fresh young men and women to be led by inexperienced leaders is a serious mistake.

Also, like it or not, this is another thing that members of the Armed Forces understand and accept when they enlist/re-enlist. Their enlistment can and sometimes will be delayed in times of war...no matter which political party is in control.

If I'm not mistaken, this occured to some of our troops that went to Bosnia as well. And Desert Storm, before that. Like it or not, it happens.

Randy

[Rot 911]

If you are going to try to put a spin on things, you should first get your terminology straight. A civilian enlists, a person in the military reenlists. As for reenlistments, the Army is exceeding its goals. What is your spin on that?

From the Miami Herald: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/8508286.htm?1c

Posted on Sat, Apr. 24, 2004




IRAQ | U.S. MILITARY


Reenlistments surpass goals

Some say it's the poor job market, others say it's patriotism, but U.S. military personnel are re-upping at rates that exceed the Pentagon's goals.

BY KIMBERLY HEFLING

Associated Press


FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - There were no signs of the shrapnel wounds from a roadside bomb in Iraq as Staff Sgt. William Pinkley raised his right hand and swore once more to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Despite his wounds -- and despite the rising death toll of U.S. troops in Iraq -- he and other soldiers are reenlisting at rates that exceed the retention goals set by the Pentagon.

Pinkley re-upped for three more years, citing the camaraderie and the challenge of a new assignment.

`GOOD FEELING'

''To come out and work with you guys every day, it's a good feeling,'' Pinkley, 26, told his 101st Airborne Division buddies during the ceremony earlier this month. His wife, Kimberly, watched with their toddler in her arms.

As of March 31 -- halfway through the Army's fiscal year -- 28,406 soldiers had reenlisted, topping the six-month goal of 28,377. The Army's goal is to reenlist 56,100 soldiers by the end of September.

''It's a very positive retention picture at this point,'' said Lt. Col. Franklin Childress, an Army public affairs officer. The Army had nearly a half-million active-duty soldiers.

However, Childress cautioned that factors such as an improved economy and the Pentagon's decision to keep about 20,000 troops in Iraq for longer than a year to help quell the violence could change the picture.

The Marines, which along with the Army have borne the brunt of combat in Iraq, said they already have fulfilled 90 percent of their retention goal for the fiscal year for getting Marines to re-up after their initial commitment. The Air Force and the Navy said they, too, are exceeding their goals.

Some say a poor job market and reenlistment bonuses worth thousands of dollars are keeping soldiers in the Army. Col. Joseph Anderson, commander of the 101st's 2nd Brigade, said it is more about camaraderie, patriotism and duty.

''They've had a personally rewarding and professionally developing experience,'' Anderson said. ``I think they've formed some bonds that are going to last a lifetime. It tends to make them want to stay.''

The only Army division not meeting its six-month goal was the 82nd Airborne Division, whose members have been sent to Afghanistan and Iraq. The division wanted to reenlist 1,221 soldiers, but got only 1,136.

OVERSEAS TWICE

At Fort Campbell, soldiers from the 101st spent seven months in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks. The entire division of about 20,000 soldiers was sent to Iraq last year for major combat, and the last planeload returned home in March. A grueling year in Iraq claimed the lives of 61 Fort Campbell soldiers, and hundreds more were wounded.

In the six-month period ending March 31, the 101st topped its goal of reenlisting 1,591, with 1,737 signing up.

[djmcmath]

It's all about what the goals are, my friend. Among junior officers, retention is somewhere 17% these days. Technically speaking, they only need to maintain 20% to keep enough khaki on the submarines, so we're not quite making enough to keep a steady pool of department heads. Worse, we're not quite keeping enough to have some selectivity -- the people who stay are guaranteed to make department head positions, and are guaranteed (almost) to promote. What's the line from the NPC (Navy Personnel Command)? Retention isn't a problem. We never expect to make 20% -- that would be a pipe dream. Morale is excellent, and we're retaining all that we need.

So retention of experienced people is a problem, and the military will continue to tell us that everything's ok. So what's the news here?


Dan

[fintstone]

Sometimes the truth does not set you free, but only confuses.

The "stop-loss" is just a tool to keep units that have trained together for deployment...together for maximum efficiency. It does not reflect on recruiting whatsoever. It is done all the time on a service-by-service basis and often selectivly applied by career field. Obviously ground pounders in Iraq eligible for retirement are not eager to go back...can you blame them? Especially with the rapidly improving job market. I had to wait till an earlier stop-loss was over to retire myself. Missed out on a great job that just wouldn't wait for me.

[rcecale]

Lynn,

You can hardly compare the way things are now to the way things were during WWII. Times have changed and more importantly, people have changed. Things were done differently than they are now. Commanders on the battlefield didn't have to worry about things like "being politically correct". How many people do you recall hearing about that rallied around protesting the war?

But if you like, maybe we could end this war the same way they ended WWII....remember that loud BOOM and flash of light?????

Randy

[rcecale]

Apparently you missed the point of my post. Perhaps I didn't explain clearly enough. There are vast differences in the way people thought 50 or 60 years ago than the way we think now. Overall, the mindset of people was different.

PWD72s started a recent thread here that touched on this. You can read it here.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not bad-mouthing the modern military member. They do a fantastic job keeping the peace in the world today. No other country has a better Armed Force. The problem they have is that too many people have their noses in the business of fighting a war that have no business being there.

Since Viet Nam, perhaps even Korea, politicians have been conducting our wars, both Democrats and Republicans. Unfortunately, it has been the Soldier, Sailor Airman and Marine that has who has had to "perform" for these leaders.

Randy

[widebody911]

Excellent summation.

Originally posted by LynnsABCs
I think you can do a pretty simple comparison between WWII and Vietnam and IRAQ.

[azasadny]

I was "stop-lossed" during the first Gulf War, and that definitely helped make up my mind to get out of the military after 9 years and never look back! I lost a job that was waiting for me and my school schedule was shot all because I took the "guv'ment" at their word (contract) that I would serve for the time I signed up for.

[Superman]

Randy, I understand. Or at least I think I do. I'm hoping to be recognized as the premier Pelican liberal, so there may be some issues we could disagree on but.......

I heartily agree that the military is routinely expected to achieve goals they were not trained and are not prepared for. Political goals. I felt so sorry for the guys in Beirut one day a long time ago. You probably remember. Defending the low ground, no live ammo, etc. the military option is a serious one, and independent. I thought President Bush (the one who did not have to go to court for a victory) handled the Gulf War nicely. He left it to the military to determine tactics.

Further, I am a retrosexual and always will be. I fix my own cars and have put plenty of game on the table. Doors get opened for ladies. And I shake my head when I look at the young people of today. It appears they are a FAR CRY from my father's generation (sonarman on a destroyer escort in the Pacific campaign). But then I notice that each generation says this about the next. And I was reflecting just yesterday on one of our old mantras. "Tune in, turn on and drop out." We must have scared our parents terribly. But today, most of us have cut our hair, and we're running things now. We've got our problems, but we're not the snot-nosed kids we were in college. So, there's hope.

And finally, while I never served in the armed forces, if I had, I'd have been a US Marine. For at least two reasons. First, they are the best. Best trained. toughest. Most dedicated. Second, they wear the finest looking dress blues on the planet, hands down. thanks for serving.

[rcecale]

Originally posted by Superman
Randy, I understand. Or at least I think I do. I'm hoping to be recognized as the premier Pelican liberal, so there may be some issues we could disagree on but.......

Hey Supe!

I guess that's the beauty of this country of ours. We are allowed and even encouraged to have our own opinions on virtually everything. Sometimes we're actually able to find others that agree with us!

I think you're at least close to your goal of being the premier Pelican Liberal. Unfortunately for you though, you've got your work cut out for you. What with the likes of Denis (Speeder) who always seems to have a good argument up his sleeve
and Aurel, who seems to live to get under the skin of any right-winger he can. He does a pretty good job of it too, despite his handicap (He IS French after all )

Tempers will flare, feelings will get hurt, and people will get over it. That's beautiful, man!

Semper Fi!

Randy