Why doesn't the Army want prior service over E5?

SGT Russell Wikoff — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 01:43:59 -0500

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 2:01 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 02:01:57 -0500

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking. I assume that you want to know why they would rather have an inexperienced cherry recruit over an experienced NCO?

Response by SGT Robert Hawks made Jan 27 at 2016 2:02 AM

SGT Robert Hawks — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 02:02:05 -0500

It's about cost

Response by SGT Robert Donaldson made Jan 27 at 2016 3:11 AM

SGT Robert Donaldson — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 03:11:27 -0500

Get some schooling, the more you know the better and better leader you will become. Listen to those under you, you would be amazed at what they know. Find a Senior NCO to mentor you.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 8:15 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 08:15:09 -0500

I've heard several things on this and surprised it hasn't come up earlier.
Also just so happens u had this same question since I wanted to go active Army after the AF pushed me out in 2012.
There's a speculative answer that was given to me by a weary MSG in the guard, as to why the Active wasn't picking up priors. He said that the government already had pliable minds right out of high school that wanted to be uncle Sam's little soldiers. Where as a prior servicemen wouldn't be so pliable and although they may be able to pass the school (AIT, Tech school, etc) priors knew the in's and out's of the military and could be a bad influence on the young pliable minds of the new recruits.
Even though I'm in the guard, I still want active duty and am always looking for an open slot on the active side that'll fit me in. Sometimes they're there, but if I don't jump on it, poof, they gone.
As for a not so conspiring story, force reduction and no war to speak of means less slots available and less priors going back into active. :-D

Response by SGM Earl Richburg made Jan 27 at 2016 10:24 AM

SGM Earl Richburg — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 10:24:18 -0500

It is all related to the end strength of the US Army. All recruiting and retention policies are levers to control the authorized strength that congress pays the Army in their budget.
Example:
1. When there is a need to grow the Army, levers such as recruiting bonuses and relaxing prior service restrictions can be implemented.
2. When the Army is downsizing or maintaining, levers are implemented to restrict entrance, lower bonuses.
3. Since we are an all volunteer Army these polices control the end strength, which we are not allowed to go over. To go below end strength is also a bad thing for those held accountable.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 7:10 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 19:10:18 -0500

I believe its mostly to prevent a bulge in the middle, so to speak. The Army needs to keep replenishing its lower enlisted as the enlisted it already has promote into the NCO corps, so coming in as an E-5 goes against that.

Response by SFC Donald Neal made Jan 27 at 2016 11:27 PM

SFC Donald Neal — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 23:27:48 -0500

Your prior service time would also be ticking against you for the RCP depending on what rank you come back in as. Additionally there's no guarantee you'd make rank fast enough to avoid getting stuck.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jan 29 at 2016 3:23 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 15:23:52 -0500

The more senior you are, the more they have to pay you, the less billets there are to place you and the less potential overall time you may have left to serve.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 12:28 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 12:28:50 -0500

SGM Richberg said it best. When there is a downsizing, like there is now, caps change, and recruiters 'aren't hiring' also as sgt lowe said, a prior may 'influence' a newbie. They did me let me tell ya, (probably why I had so many counseling statements) You must keep in constant touch with a recruiter if you really want in bad enough. My brother was missing half is index finger, a recruiter told me, 'hell if he really wanted in bad enough I'm almost positive he could've gotten in.'

Response by SGT Patrick Soule made Feb 2 at 2016 4:21 PM

SGT Patrick Soule — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 16:21:25 -0500

It is a function of the obama administration and the ongoing overreach of the federal government for power and control. The prior service are wiser and better able to comprehend what the Constitution allows the federal government to be able to do and that it is NOT able to do. As a result, more prior service currently serving would be a hinderance to any unconstitutional orders given our Armed Forces. It is no longer a function of trying to have the "best and brightest", but those who will do as they are told, regardless of whether or not it is a lawful order.
Those that think I am "paranoid", take an honest look at the totality of what our "best and brightest" have been convicted of when it comes to combating the enemy. How many of them killed or injured enemy combatants, or defied indigenous military officers or police who were committing crimes and were prosecuted for it? Or were discharged / "RIFTED"?
Remember, you have not been relieved of your Oath of Enlistment.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2018 9:15 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 21:15:39 -0500

I think others covered pretty much all the possible reasons but if you are still interested in coming back in, I would go talk to a recruiter. I just reenlisted as prior service and coming back as an E-5 so it all has to do with what the Army needs. If you have any specific questions I can do my best to answer as I just went through the process.