Posted on Jan 9, 2016
How is it that the Army is recruiting but downsizing?
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Responses: 28
Because the Army is essentially a conveyer belt. We will always need new faces because old faces WILL leave for whatever reason. The only difference during downsizing is how many new faces we bring in, and the qualification standards that we apply (looser during war, tighter during downsizing).
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The Army must always do that because of attrition and also accounting for those Somduers that are in the training base.
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Everyone thinks that the Army is downsizing, but we really aren't. If you look at it the Army will recruit for the same amount of new enlistments each year because they already know that some will quit, get hurt, or get in erroneously. Now this is where we get the impression about downsizing, when I buddy to the left or right of us is getting separated because he/she haven't attended any schooling in the last 5-10 years, haven't done any civilian education, and has been getting 3/4's. I'm not saying everyone is getting separated on those terms but that is taking place in our ranks. I think the easiest fix is to get the SPEC ranks back because not everyone wants to lead, but they are or could be great technical wise in their MOS. I remember when I joined I learned so much from that 10- 5 yr SPC, and my Squad leader was like a god I barely spoke with him, and only saw him for formations and disciplinary actions if any.
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They still have to recruit to fill the junior enlisted slots that are always in need of filling. Even with the force reduction there are those that will get out on their own free will and they still need to be replaced.
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MCPO Roger Collins
Absolutely. And as stated before criteria should be the highest possible to ensure those that chooses the military as a career can carry the load as well as those being replaced.
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A lot of people responded to deal with attrition. The other thing that gets looked at is maintaining grade and billet continuity so you don't create gaps that can pester the service for 20 years. So there will always be new recruits every year. Fewer? Yes. BTW current SMs who are in a series or MOS that's say undermanned at E-5 will tend to see promotion to E-6 stretched out while the backfill capability catches up.
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It's the balancing act of the three legged stool. You have Accessions (recruiting), retention, and attrition (ets, meb, chapter). All while trying to manage end strength and force allignment.
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