Should reenlistments be made competitive?

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 18:40:49 -0500

So, the Army is offering cash bonuses for 2-year extensions/reenlistments. Should everyone be able to reenlist or should we make it a competitive process? Why? Why not?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2017 6:51 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 18:51:27 -0500

Competitive? Sure. To truly see if people want to stay in and get the perks that go with it. See who is really hungry for it.

Response by 1SG Mike Case made Feb 21 at 2017 7:05 PM

1SG Mike Case — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 19:05:19 -0500

I think it would be a great idea. The Soldiers who want to stay in will better themselves and the ones who want to do four years will get out, which is fine. It truly will help in the retention of the best Soldiers.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Feb 21 at 2017 7:14 PM

CW4 Guy Butler — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 19:14:25 -0500

My immediate reaction was "Hunger Games competitive or American Ninja Warrior competitive?"

Bad Warrant...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2017 7:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 19:45:27 -0500

It already is competitive. The Army is not offering bonuses to everyone for a 2 year term. The Army is offering a bonus to personnel, qualified for retention (commander approval), who ETS prior to October 2017.
Recruiting and Retention have to increase the Army end strength by 8000 for this FY. Of that 8000 shortfall, less than 700 people took the 10k bonus. That's less than 1%.
If we make that a competition and only keep the best 60%, we will have successfully contributed 0.5% to fulfilling the mission Congress directed to us.

HRC already implements restrictive measures to ensure we only retain the best - RCP, QMP, QSP, Bars. Commanders have these tools at their disposal.

Response by SPC Todd Hanson made Feb 21 at 2017 8:18 PM

SPC Todd Hanson — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 20:18:07 -0500

I say no I enjoy my dd214 and DOD job too much.

Response by CPL Anthony Slaughter made Feb 21 at 2017 10:03 PM

CPL Anthony Slaughter — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 22:03:20 -0500

I have this cool image in my head of Soldiers competing for reenlistment by going through events from the original American Gladiators. Seriously though, I think that bonuses and other perks such as duty station of choice should be competitive, but I think that as long as they continue to meet the standards, anyone who wants to reenlist should be able to.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Feb 22 at 2017 12:20 AM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 00:20:01 -0500

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member It would be interesting what an Army wide survey in The Army Times would show if this were given in one of the upcoming print outs. In a lot of ways, it would keep those who really want to stay in and move up in their careers. It would make others either leave at their ETS or to become more proficient in their MOS and stronger leaders if they want to stay in and be competitive. May the strongest survive be on their minds.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Feb 22 at 2017 8:14 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 08:14:16 -0500

Well I don't know about the Army, but in the Marines reenlistments are a competitive process. There's a select number of slots available for retention so if you want to stay in you need to be at the top of your game.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Feb 22 at 2017 9:13 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 09:13:24 -0500

Hmm, well before you start asking if it should be competitive to reenlist experienced soldiers (good, bad or otherwise), ask if the Army can achieve their end-strength goals through all reasonable means to begin with.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Feb 22 at 2017 9:30 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 09:30:46 -0500

The answer to your question depends upon on the needs of the service. While it is always nice to receive a bonus, the really important thing is the state of the service.

Response by SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood made Feb 22 at 2017 9:45 AM

SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 09:45:21 -0500

I'm retired ,but i think then and more so now it was and is still very competitive,there are enough rules and regs now should keep non competitive from reenlisting,to much big Army and Government ,bonuses are incentives for those qualified to stay in if you qualify and also is done by MOS and an even qualifier for retention,here soon your gonna have a Military of politicians and not soldiers, bad move.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Feb 22 at 2017 10:50 AM

SFC J Fullerton — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 10:50:41 -0500

It is necessary in a draw-down, just like higher procurement standards and fewer waivers for new recruits. When the end-strength number goes up, all that goes out the window in order to meet the required number. In a perfect world, only the best qualified should be allowed to enlist or re-enlist. But not enough of the best qualified have any propensity to join, and not enough that do want to stay. There has to be a trade-off when the Army tries to reverse a draw-down and increase end-strength in a short period of time.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Feb 22 at 2017 11:04 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:04:09 -0500

It's difficult to believe Mattis would buy into these ideas. He of all people know what makes a good warrior, and as much as I like pay and benefits, that only retains good and bad. Bonuses of any kind should be based on potential or needs of the service. What value does a SM that can leave after two years and have lifetime VA benefits.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2017 11:44 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:44:51 -0500

Nope, the Army is simply providing an incentive for qualified soldiers to either join or stay in. If a soldier meets the standards to enlist/re-enlist, then they should be offered a bonus. False promises are BS in my opinion.

Response by CPT Wiliam Miller made Feb 23 at 2017 1:25 AM

CPT Wiliam Miller — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 01:25:04 -0500

Should have re-up cash bonus or increase in rank