SFC Ralph E Kelley 280298 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Saying what needs to be said and debating the issue are two different things. <br /><br />One of the things I&#39;ve assessed is one reason for the drawdown is recruitment wasn&#39;t keeping with the Army&#39;s actual needs. No conspiracy theory here - just a survey of the Army&#39;s own documentation of recruiting issues/enlistment/enlistment factors and figures. <br />Basically the kids aren&#39;t signing up and the one that do aren&#39;t staying in greater numbers than ever before since the end of WWI. The fat lady is singing. I just not sure what the tune is. <br /><br />One man&#39;s opinion - fire away. The Drawing-down of the Army - are there other reasons than money? 2014-10-16T11:11:46-04:00 SFC Ralph E Kelley 280298 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Saying what needs to be said and debating the issue are two different things. <br /><br />One of the things I&#39;ve assessed is one reason for the drawdown is recruitment wasn&#39;t keeping with the Army&#39;s actual needs. No conspiracy theory here - just a survey of the Army&#39;s own documentation of recruiting issues/enlistment/enlistment factors and figures. <br />Basically the kids aren&#39;t signing up and the one that do aren&#39;t staying in greater numbers than ever before since the end of WWI. The fat lady is singing. I just not sure what the tune is. <br /><br />One man&#39;s opinion - fire away. The Drawing-down of the Army - are there other reasons than money? 2014-10-16T11:11:46-04:00 2014-10-16T11:11:46-04:00 CW5 Private RallyPoint Member 280325 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="142274" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/142274-sfc-ralph-e-kelley">SFC Ralph E Kelley</a>, I hadn&#39;t considered that reason for drawing down the military. It seems somewhat counter-intuitive to me, but I guess it might have merit. <br /><br />I do believe, though, that the main reason for the drawdown is money, plain and simple. On another thread here on RallyPoint, people have mentioned the budget cuts and how our senior leaders are &quot;fighting the good fight&quot; to keep what they can. Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 11:32 AM 2014-10-16T11:32:19-04:00 2014-10-16T11:32:19-04:00 SFC Ralph E Kelley 296764 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As I said - it was one of things I have noticed in the past. When there were a lot of civilians wanting to join up then &#39;money&#39; became available. I&#39;m not really sure why - more resources/people available, more parents/votes - I don&#39;t know. Its just a trend I&#39;ve noticed. Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Oct 27 at 2014 6:33 PM 2014-10-27T18:33:09-04:00 2014-10-27T18:33:09-04:00 SFC Ralph E Kelley 296772 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As I said - it was one of things I have noticed in the past. When there were a lot of civilians wanting to join up then 'money' became available. I'm not really sure why - more resources/people available, more parents/votes - I don't know. Its just a trend I've noticed. Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Oct 27 at 2014 6:35 PM 2014-10-27T18:35:23-04:00 2014-10-27T18:35:23-04:00 2014-10-16T11:11:46-04:00