How can leaders effectively retain 1st enlistment personnels before their 4 years mark?

Seeing this strip got me remembering my enlistment. Before I got out, my Staff Sergeant sat me down and explored all my options before my enlistment is done. He really wanted me to stay in and talked for a while on it. When checking out from PACS in Camp Lejeune and doing my final career retention paperwork, another Marine asked me if I wanted to stay in. Again, no; but it got me thinking about what my Staff Sergeant said to me. I may be mopping, but kinda wished Career Retention officers were more persuasive.

When I was looking at reenlistment after my first five years in, my command didnt even want to talk to me about reenlisting. Not until I left to head home on leave and my squadron left on the shock and awe campaign. The personnel officer from the rag squadron called me at home telling me I made E-5 and if I wanted to re enlist. By then I had a job and a kid on the way. Now I regret it not staying in, the guys i was in with are now retiring.

Maybe I have an advantage of using my five-year break in service experience to pursued them to stay in, but in all reality, leaders can only do so much. Whether it be personal or professional reasons for leaving the military, the decision is ultimately up to the service member. BUT.......they all come back eventually, muahahahahahahahaha.