Posted on Jan 9, 2016
How is it that the Army is recruiting but downsizing?
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Responses: 28
Without recruiting we as leaders will run out of soldiers to lead. A large portion of junior enlisted are one timers.
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SFC (Join to see)
That I understand ; point I'm trying to make this this; the Army won't take prior service to lead as well!
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MAJ (Join to see)
Don't need today's leaders downsizing those need tomorrows leaders they'll let prior service back in a few years from now.
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LTC Paul Labrador
SFC (Join to see) - there are reasons why the Army is not taking prior service. Biggest is longevity. With a brand new PV1 and/or 2LT the assumption that they have the most potential for a long service career gradually growing them over time. In other words in the big picture, they are cheaper. With priors, they already have time in so you have to pay them off the bat at a higher grade and you theoretically won't get as much time out of them as you would with a fresh off the street recruit.
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Because every years, thousands leave the Army due to ETS or retirement. We need to make sure they are replaced so we can maintain somewhat of a steady state. The Army has to look long range also to make sure there will be enough senior NCOs and officers down the road as far as we can see. There are statistics to show how many new Soldiers we need each year to have X number of CSMs 25 years from now. Now what you may see is a reduced recruitment mission as I see that for officers in my role as a Recruiting Operations Officer for an Army ROTC program.
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You just raise standards i.e. Entry scores, high school graduate, no criminal records, etc. quality not quantity.
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MCPO Roger Collins
And that is the correct answer, but not exactly an answer to the question. How much does it cost to provide pay and benefits to our most senior NCOs and Officers? How much does it cost to hire throw aways? It is a cost savings ploy, that will cost us in the long run. Take a look at just who is being let go and who remains and the real answer will be obvious. Nothing new here.
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SSG (Join to see)
You're not telling me anything new. I was a recruiter. What the Big Army decides is based on what they seem to be quality.
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A lot of others have made the point but to answer your question, downsizing is necessary to reduce leaders at the higher levels especially that are no longer necessary. Individuals who don't progress are wasting army time and money. Recruitment however won't change because of budgeting requirements.
As an example a specialist with 8 years makes $2461 per month. A private brand new makes $1546. So if the army releases the specialist from service, it can acquire a New soldier and save over $900. Multiply that by a force reduction of 40,000 troops the Army saves 432 million dollars per year.
As an example a specialist with 8 years makes $2461 per month. A private brand new makes $1546. So if the army releases the specialist from service, it can acquire a New soldier and save over $900. Multiply that by a force reduction of 40,000 troops the Army saves 432 million dollars per year.
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SSG Robert Webster
SFC (Join to see) You are just accounting for base pay and allowances - correct? What you are not taking into account is the expense of locating, recruiting, training and equipping that new soldier, which is amortized over the period of the first enlistment period, which then brings the total monthly cost into the same range. Where the saving come in is through the force reduction and other related cost.
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It is about the needs of the Army.
With a new soldier, it is understood that there is training time, slots to fill, etc. They are recruited to jobs that need filled at the junior enlisted level, which are usually plentiful.
The NCO ranks have always been filled by promotion, rather than recruiting.
With a prior service soldier that has had a break in service, it is a little different. There are fewer NCO roles the higher you go. Those NCOs that have made that rank are more likely to stay in than get out. Your skills may or may not meet the rank and MOS needs of the Army. Depending on the length of the break in service, there are also training requirements for the prior service NCO as well. The Army doesn't necessarily budget for that in recruiting and training. How much have regulations changed in even the last couple of years? For example, it can be quite difficult for an NCO who is expected to enforce AR 670-1 when all of the uniforms are different and the rules have changed.
With a new soldier, it is understood that there is training time, slots to fill, etc. They are recruited to jobs that need filled at the junior enlisted level, which are usually plentiful.
The NCO ranks have always been filled by promotion, rather than recruiting.
With a prior service soldier that has had a break in service, it is a little different. There are fewer NCO roles the higher you go. Those NCOs that have made that rank are more likely to stay in than get out. Your skills may or may not meet the rank and MOS needs of the Army. Depending on the length of the break in service, there are also training requirements for the prior service NCO as well. The Army doesn't necessarily budget for that in recruiting and training. How much have regulations changed in even the last couple of years? For example, it can be quite difficult for an NCO who is expected to enforce AR 670-1 when all of the uniforms are different and the rules have changed.
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Every Organization you always need fresh blood and it is more important in the Military. Can't have SSGs without Troops to Supervise. They are just going to have fewer at each level.
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Without a doubt we have to account for natural attrition. So recruiting will continue. People who make a lot of money come up with how many we bring in based off what we need to lose.
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Privates can't stay privates forever. I don't think we will be taking the numbers of the past but we are losing people everyday due to completing their contracts. You have to keep the new soldiers coming in to replace those that are left.
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Approximately 300,000 service members leave the military every year. We are still engaged at a different capacity in other countries, and the Army, like other branches, have to find the talent of today to defend our tomorrow - just a thought from my end.
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Overall population is a small part of the equation. It's about having X amount of people at Y rank in B MOS at any given moment...
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