What kind of Guard retention efforts have you had success with in your State?

2015-10-18T11:07:05-04:00

Specifically for Guard units (Army or Air), what kind of Retention efforts have you had success with within in your State?

Response by SSG Keven Lahde made Oct 18 at 2015 11:30 AM

2015-10-18T11:30:28-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member I was able to extend so I hope to retire with 20+ years of service.

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2015 5:42 PM

2015-10-18T17:42:15-04:00

The offer of ING allows for a soldier to take a break from the grind of all the sacrifice and still make a choice while retaining time in grade (just not retirement). It's a good option for most, especially if they are doing IRR time. Then you save them from ridiculously being called back up to fill some slot for a couple months in some other part of the country that needs numbers.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2015 1:40 PM

2015-10-19T13:40:31-04:00

Schools, deployments, and training opportunities work well for us. I have Soldiers choosing to ETS because we're not deploying in the near future. Likewise schools like Air Assault, Pathfinder, and Ranger go a long ways in keeping young 11Bs motivated.

Response by SFC(P) Jonathan P. made Oct 19 at 2015 4:27 PM

2015-10-19T16:27:36-04:00

During my time as ados out retention methods where very successful.

We would usually go to units during there drill weekends and have meetings with there NCOs and soldiers who where going to ets with in a year or less.

Talk about reclassing, promotions, bonuses student loan repayments, ocs options etc i

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2015 10:15 PM

2015-10-19T22:15:52-04:00

Being in the Guard for about 10 years I will say it really depends on the units. Leadership is a big deal. I have seen awesome soldiers get out due to poor leadership. The best thing you can do is develop a system to create good unit morale. If you don't have that then you are going to see numbers drop.

Response by SGT Jay Grant made Oct 19 at 2015 10:20 PM

2015-10-19T22:20:50-04:00

I don't know about the state in regards to efforts but I have seen various units take their time with retention It pretty much comes down to this , if a unit wants to keep you on the " books " then they will go out of their way to make sure that your thinking of staying in but if not then they will wait until the last minute to question you on if you have considered staying in or getting out I have actually seen this happen way too many times , myself included

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 4:50 PM

2015-10-20T16:50:23-04:00

Going in the IRR to work as a Contracter to make the big bucks for a year or two and still being a soldier always

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 10:40 AM

2015-10-21T10:40:08-04:00

Our CSM was pushing big bonuses ($20k) really hard a few months ago to get soldiers to re-up.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2015 1:37 PM

2015-10-28T13:37:38-04:00

Retention is a problem in the military and civilian market. People quit on there first immediate boss or NCO. Really though states very on benefits to reenlist.
As a Retention NCO they have to listen. I know some units struggling cause of the APFT, or total percentage of unit strength allowed.
Ask yourself Why 5 to 10 times. For an example Google 5 Why root cause problem solving. Have a great day.