Is the drawdown really for getting soldiers out?

2015-07-15T22:38:46-04:00

I had a fellow NCO today talking to a class she was giving in which I'm attending. She started talking and the drawdown and how they are giving everyone the "pink slip". I could tell the soldiers started to get worried. I then heard her say she's been in the army for 12 years earlier(e-5) and I was just wondering. Is the drawdown really for getting soldiers out? Or the personel that have not advanced to the next level and are keeping that promotion spot from others???

Response by SGT Ronnie Warford made Jul 15 at 2015 10:38 PM

2015-07-15T22:38:55-04:00

Thanks in advance!!!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2015 10:55 PM

2015-07-15T22:55:48-04:00

The army has the difficult task of figuring out who to put out in order to get down to to numbers they want (490k, possibly lower). All they're doing is looking at the people like you said who are behind the typical promotion curve and cutting the slack. This gets them closer to the end goal while only cutting the soldiers who aren't doing well enough to warrant staying in in the first place. If most of the soldiers getting cut were serious about their careers they would have done the research and figured out exactly what they needed to do to stay ahead of that curve and there wouldn't be such a sense of paranoia going around.

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2015 11:03 PM

2015-07-15T23:03:18-04:00

They certainly won't cut "everyone". I don't believe the Army has announced all of the specific measures yet, but if recent history is any indicator you will probably see a combination of attrition, QSB, OSB, and promotion passover used to achieve target numbers. If you are a consistently strong performer with maybe a w block sprinkled in somewhere, I wouldn't worry too much. If you have a series of negative counseling and a poor evaluation or two, work on your resume.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2015 11:19 PM

2015-07-15T23:19:15-04:00

I think it is important to remember that everyone has their own personal experiences that shape the way they view the world around them. If they are negatively affected by a policy or perceive they are, they could be more apt to convey negativity to others.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2015 12:14 AM

2015-07-16T00:14:23-04:00

It's doing both... It's forcing people out who have not been promoted within a certain timeframe to stop the bottleneck that occurs at certain ranks. It's also making anyone who ever messed up in the career ineligible for reenlistment.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 16 at 2015 12:36 AM

2015-07-16T00:36:14-04:00

OK, SGT Ronnie Warford This is how drawdowns work.

The Army is given a specific endstrength, the latest is 450k. We were 480k in 911, grew to 590k for GWOT, back to 490k after OIF (now)... Then the latest cuts were announced.

Many of these reductions are achieved through attrition. But, when that fails, all ranks are looked at, to see (A) if the are balanced (on hand = authorized positions), and (B) if not (out of balance) than reductions happen/are directed. Many ranks (by MOS/Branch) are overstrengthed.

When that happens those asked to leave (pink slips) are selected in essentially a reverse promotion order fashion. That is, so for your branch and MOS (assuming it is overstrengthed) they will line up all Soldiers of your grade and MOS based on performance 1-N (best to worst), then based on the requirements / authorizations they will make a cut line based on what we need. Those below that cut line are asked to leave. So, yes, you are definitely at risk of being separated if you are poor performer. An E-5 in the Army for 12 years, is likely at risk. I am not sure about you.

When we do a reduction in force/downsizing, it is always based on merit... or lack there of. The worst go first.

I hope that helps?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2015 3:51 AM

2015-07-16T03:51:01-04:00

I think she may be worried for a reason. If soldiers are getting passed over for promotion or are not seeking to advance then they may be subject to be separated. The Army really doesn't need those 16 year SGTs. Sure some have a lot of experience but we just can't maintain a force of soldiers that don't want to promote. Now if a soldier is in an MOS that is difficult to promote in then that is another story. But if your peers are SFCs and MSGs while you are still a SGT then there might be an issue there. The experience might be better served in a higher capacity.