Why is it so difficult to find good support Soldiers for AGR positions?

MSG,

I'd say you've made a pretty accurate assessment of a large percentage of AGR Soldiers both ARNG and USAR. While the programs are ran separately we share many of the same challenges. I can only speak to my observations as a USAR TPU Soldier and since 2007 a USAR AGR Soldier.

My first thought is why is any Soldier a bad Soldier? Well I believe SPC William Weedman hit the nail on the head with lack of accountability and I would add lack of leadership and development.

I've worked with a lot of trash TPU and M-Day Soldiers in my time in Support MOSs and even SOF if you count USACAPOC (A) as SOF. I can say the difference is scope of responsibility a M-Day trash E5 will be detrimental to his Squad or Team a Trash AGR E5 hurts the entire Company so there is a perception that the percentage is greater but I would argue that it is not.

More often than not these Soldiers are assessed into the AGR program with little training or functional experience and expected to work unsupervised. They need leadership and accountability to grow professionally.

Lack of career development opportunities I can't speak for ARNG but in USAR there is a general attitude that schools are for TPU Soldiers or core MOS Soldiers. When I was in USACAPOC (A) if you were not a 37 or 38 you were absolutely not a priority and were not going to school and the issue was double if you were AGR. We need to send these AGR Soldiers to school to help them grow professionally and bring the skills learned back yo the unit. Many Commanders think they are only fielding a force of core MOS Soldiers and leave their HQ Detachment untrained and wonder why they can't get quality support.

The short answer is they need the same things as any Soldier. They need to trained, they need leadership, they need accountability, and they need professional development.

There are a lot of studs in the TPU side that would be wonderful additions to AGR. The issue that often rises is most people who would be great at the role don't necessarily benefit from going full time AGR. I as an E5 in AGR I would loose about 1,200 a month by switching over after calculating all the benefits, and the losses, not to mention it also forces me to go back and start again from the bottom if I was in that AGR position for any given point in time. Honestly its a hard sell.

Little late to the party myself, but as many have said you get what you pay for. Same reason many solid service members get out and do contracting work instead of doing another enlistment. Service to ones country is great and noble, but at a certain point you have to make a move for what's best for your family. At a certain point you do have to ask what your country can do for you especially if you've got several trips under your belt.