How long should service members be stationed at a unit?

In my opinion it is a matter of professional growth.  If you continue to grow in your job and are assigned new and challenge positions (along your career path) then staying in one location is not a bad thing.  As MCPO Young stated, it successfully builds your team and allows for continuity.  Once you stop your job advancement then it is time to move on to greener pastures.

In my younger days - that is the reason I joined the military…to get to see the world!  Now that I'm married and my kids are entering high school…the stabilization for life appeals to me more and more.  I can see pro's and con's in each.

<p>Sir, there is much to be said for remaining with a single organization for a long period of time. Several years ago I read a research study which pointed out how frequent moves in the military system degraded unit performance. </p><p><br></p><p>Remaining with&nbsp;one unit&nbsp;builds continuity; reduces disruptions caused by personnel not being adequately acquainted with the operation or their new teammates.&nbsp;It always heightens that sense of belonging &amp; ownership which drives high performance (you own it, you'll take care of it. know you're leaving in less than 18 months, then maybe not so much). </p><p><br></p><p>The downside is that&nbsp;if not managed appropriately this static situation allows people to become stale, and unmotivated. Continuity of action is great until it robs the organization of motivation and challenge because things have become routine. It eliminates&nbsp;the broader possibilities for gaining life's experiences born of new places, relationships and challenges.</p><p><br></p><p>Is it possible that the military could do a better job of allowing members some geographic stability for the sake of their families by transferring members between collocated or closely located units? Members&nbsp;would gain the much of the opportunity needed to continue their career development while maintaining something far closer to a normal home life. Food for thought.</p>

There's a push to extend medical research personnel to 4 yr tours. Makes sense. When you need to get research money, write a grant, and then execute research, it's almost impossible to do within 3 years. There's a lot of research dollars wasted because army scientists are moved before they can finish their project, and it discourages the creation of new and/or more demanding studies.

2 year minimum If a soldier likes to PCS a lot.

In the Air Force we call it "Homesteading" when someone stays at a base to long, and it's generally a bad thing for later promotions because it shows a lack in breadth of experience.  The new thing since PCS budgets are smaller is "Jobsteading," if you stayed at a base too long did you stay in the same job, or move around.

I think 2 would be great.

Long enough until you have a problem with your boss and one of you gets transferred.

If you remained with the same unit, the only chance for promotion would be retirement or death within that organization. Come to think of it, that's how it works in the Air Force.