Why does there seem to be so much recruiting with the downsize?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:13:58 -0500

Just wondering thanks!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 10:20 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:20:34 -0500

They are trying to reshape the force with the new mindset.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jan 12 at 2015 10:59 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:59:32 -0500

Because we always need more E-1 - E-4 to do the actual work. You always need fresh batch of soldiers and we no longer live in a world where someone is willing to remain an E-2 for four years.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 11:27 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 23:27:48 -0500

The way I see it, is that they need the new blood to replace the old blood they're getting rid of. As the older soldiers gain rank, they take consume more pay, hence when they need to get rid of the older soldier they can replace him with more younger soldiers.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 5:14 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 05:14:05 -0500

Well all of the departments are made up of a certain percent of first term and career members. Last time I checked for the AF we were going back to 55% first term Airmen and 45% career Airmen. With that in mind recruiting is still very important.

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Jan 13 at 2015 8:22 AM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:22:02 -0500

To cover attrition in various jobs, even though the military is downsizing. we still maintain a minimum amount service members in each specialty

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 9:01 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 09:01:36 -0500

I find it interesting that during discussions like this one folks often refer to the "they". Who are they and how are they carrying out sweeping change through all departments of the DoD at the same time with malice? Oddly enough no one tries to stop "them?"

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 11:43 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 11:43:20 -0500

Even though we are downsizing in some areas, there still needs to be a fresh flow of troops, otherwise we will end up with the same problem we did post-Gulf War and that was an experience vacuum. We had a lot of new folks going into 99/2000 and a lot of almost-retired folks but no one in the middle.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jan 13 at 2015 2:40 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 14:40:08 -0500

A few different reasons why recruiting continues even during a down sizing.
- All services use an up or out promotion approach. Therefore we have to have a constant flow at the bottom to backfill those who either got out or were promoted.
- Capability vs capacity. Tied to above but reduced operational capacity does not mean no operational capacity. Even a down sizing force has operational capacity that must be consistently renewed and regenerated thus we need to keep recruiting.
- Easier (and cheaper) to maintain recruiting capability even if reduced than to eliminate it. From a Recruiting Command perspective it is easier and cheaper to maintain a skeleton organization along with process, procedure, and system than it is to eliminate Recruiting Command for even a limited period of time and then try to re establish this capability.
- Recruiting is a process not an objective. Kind of like farming from this perspective. We need to plant seeds now that we may not harvest until several months or years from now. If we do not plant the seed then we are guaranteed to not have a harvest (recruits in the future).

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 2:46 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 14:46:38 -0500

There are always those that come and go after one enlistment. If the services didn't backfill those positions then they would really be short handed. The career guys will always be there until pushed out by forced retirement or downsizing.