How different would Professional Develpment be for Signal / IT / TacCom Service Members if the Civilian Workforce did less ?

Prior to my retiriement I watch my unit 1114th Sig Bn (DOIM), Garrison Fort Hood. Responsible for all data and telephone service for the largest Army post. Was converted to only civilian personnel. Because the bean counters wanted to reduce military numbers. It cost more money not using military installers, trouble desk/switch operators and IT techs. Compared to civilian wage grade personnel.

It was also a strong training tool for the Sig Bde to allow soldiers do a 6 month OJT rotation using our civilian equipment like fiber optics. Soldiers were happy for the experience.

I am not sure you could keep people long enough to build a skill pool to run IT operations if you shifted more to the active duty military and away from civilians, not without significant changes to pay. Quite simply you would lose people to the private sector.

I find the active duty officer and NCO Signal very silo'ed. The warrant officers and civilians get the true broad technical work. It needs to be changed, especially for Cyber