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Given that the military is wanting to downsize and save money, what do you think should change in regards to PCS moves? Do you think the current timeline is cost effective? Do you think it would be more cost effective if we went to five years (or another number) on one assignment? Or do you think it is OK the way it is?
I know a lot of personal feelings will be conveyed here but let's try to think of it from a cost benefit perspective.
I know a lot of personal feelings will be conveyed here but let's try to think of it from a cost benefit perspective.
PCS
Duty Stations
Business Funding
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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In terms of shear cost for the Military, it is relatively inexpensive to move a service member. For example, I just moved from Seattle, WA to Boston, MA (nearly the furthest you'll ever have to move a Soldier) for an ETS and the Army quoted me approximately $8,000 to move 8,000lbs. So for moves, it would be cost effective to allow relatively frequent moves.
I think there is another cost that is harder to put a handle on. One is organizational stability. How much does it cost the Military in terms of lost productivity when key leaders move on. Another, what is the cost to the retainability of the service member? Some would prefer longer stays, some would prefer to move often to gain valuable experience.
At the end of the day, the Military has a certain value for service member retention and organizational stability and should select a PCS strategy to balance the two.
In my opinion.
I think there is another cost that is harder to put a handle on. One is organizational stability. How much does it cost the Military in terms of lost productivity when key leaders move on. Another, what is the cost to the retainability of the service member? Some would prefer longer stays, some would prefer to move often to gain valuable experience.
At the end of the day, the Military has a certain value for service member retention and organizational stability and should select a PCS strategy to balance the two.
In my opinion.
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COL Vincent Stoneking
In addition to the organizational chaos (50% of officers and 33% of NCOs learning their new jobs all at the same time, permissive TDY hits, etc) every summer, there is the personal/personnel chaos.
Those same people are trying the find a place to live, move in, meet people, figure out where things are, get their kids enrolled in school, have the spouse looking for a new job, and the 1,001 other things that they have to do. Which just reinforces the organizational chaos.
An additional second order effect is the impact this has on RC formations. While they don't PCS as such, the full-time manning (AC and AGR) do - also in the summer. At the same time the AC is. Which is when the RC units traditionally do their annual training. Which rely on AC and AGR support. From people that are moving/learning their new jobs at new locations...
Add to this the third order effects - Does the Solider become more or less likely to stay based on the constant change? (Honestly don't know the answer to this. I don't know that I would care, but I was a Navy brat....)
Those same people are trying the find a place to live, move in, meet people, figure out where things are, get their kids enrolled in school, have the spouse looking for a new job, and the 1,001 other things that they have to do. Which just reinforces the organizational chaos.
An additional second order effect is the impact this has on RC formations. While they don't PCS as such, the full-time manning (AC and AGR) do - also in the summer. At the same time the AC is. Which is when the RC units traditionally do their annual training. Which rely on AC and AGR support. From people that are moving/learning their new jobs at new locations...
Add to this the third order effects - Does the Solider become more or less likely to stay based on the constant change? (Honestly don't know the answer to this. I don't know that I would care, but I was a Navy brat....)
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I believe that the optimal time in a unit should be between three to four years and not longer than five years.
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SPC(P) Mark Newman
For the benefit of the troop, I'd say two to three years to learn the job/place, but not get burnt. For benefit of the Army, maybe each troop would stay 5 years, so you've got experienced people doing the job at all times.
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I would go with 4-5 years with the same unit/post, after that you really start to stagnate and need the change to keep yourself and your chosen career field interesting. On the flip-side, I do know that there are some who would prefer to homestead in one place/unit as was the way it was back in the really "old school" Army of the 1800's early 1900's, nothing wrong for those individuals, but I know that after spending 6 1/2 years at Stewart, even though I split time as a Tanker and as a PLDC Instructor, it was really time to go when I PCS'd in 2006.
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1SG (Join to see)
3 years. The most I ever spent was 3 1/2 because of a Bosnia Deployment but nevertheless it's good to keep it fresh and try new things with diversity in your mos.
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