Should the military get rid of reenlistment contracting?

SFC Randy Purham — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 17:32:52 -0400

With downsizing in effect and budgetary constraints affecting readiness on many levels - should reenlistment contracting go away and eligible Soldiers do service extensions to their discretion? This would eliminate bonuses and auto-promotions in certain career fields with re-up options of that nature.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 12 at 2016 5:34 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 17:34:01 -0400

No.

Response by SFC Wade W. made Apr 12 at 2016 5:43 PM

SFC Wade W. — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 17:43:05 -0400

No, there are MOS's that need good, qualified and trained personnel. That requires that the Military offer bonuses to keep those people. There are too many great soldiers that leave because the civilian sector offers them more than the service does. A bonus can make all the difference sometimes.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2016 5:45 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 17:45:44 -0400

That would not make sense. The needs of the Army and in-out calls for specific MOS levels depend on a reliable method of tracking and ensuring that the proper training and development needs are met. If soldiers can extend willy-nilly at their own discretion, you will lose much of the kinds of things that RCPs (retention control points) look for.

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Apr 12 at 2016 8:24 PM

SGT Aaron Atwood — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 20:24:41 -0400

Depends on who this is supposed to target. I know one Marine who turned down a six-digit figure at Sikorsky because he didn't want to leave the Corps yet (and there's no way he's making a six-digit figure right now). I myself reenlisted without seeing any bonus, special pay, promotion, etc. I do agree with SFC Williams though. The civilian sector has no issue offering lucrative benefits to getting employed by them; something the military as a whole is behind in by at least 10-20 years (except in civilian contractors; now those guys make bank) and that can make the right people eventually turn away from the military to fulfill the same job in the civilian side. The wrong people for the job, though, might try to stick around if the benefits are juicy enough.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Apr 12 at 2016 9:50 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 21:50:10 -0400

I'm not sure your level of understanding of the Army's Retention Program...but this question is way off base?

1. Downsizing is near it's completion....based on the world's events, may have to slightly increase our end-strength again.

2. Allow servicemembers to extend at THEIR discretion? Couldn't this allow sub-standard Soldiers to remain in service and infect the NCOs corps over time?

3. Eliminate bonuses? Why would this help? If you want to retain good servicemembers in critical MOSs, why would you remove this entitlement?

4. Auto-promotions? Already happening in critical MOSs (Command List Integration (CLI)) and this was tried during the 'Grow the Army' at greater rates...still feeling the effects.

Response by SSgt Chris Shultz made Apr 12 at 2016 11:09 PM

SSgt Chris Shultz — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 23:09:43 -0400

The Air Force did away with bonuses in my career field. Their retention dropped off over in half. In these worlds of managing ever shrinking budgets, saying you arent willing to give bonuses to keep experience and would rather spend a the much higher rates to get less experienced asses in seats so to speak. But you know, "fiscal responsibility"

Response by PFC Mark Blankenship made Apr 12 at 2016 11:12 PM

PFC Mark Blankenship — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 23:12:43 -0400

No, I think that reenlistment contracts should stay in place. It would set career soldiers up
for failure if that happened. With the contracts, at least you know that you have the time that you have reenlisted for, then the next contract comes and it's your choice again.

Response by PFC Mark Blankenship made Apr 12 at 2016 11:19 PM

PFC Mark Blankenship — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 23:19:51 -0400

There's another reason I think that this would be a bad idea. The bonuses and promotions help keep good NCO's in the service. Taken away, your gonna end up with below average NCO's in positions that they are not ready to command. The private sector takes the best already because of the money they throw at these Soldiers. Without promotions and advancement in rank, the service will loose a lot of great NCO's.

Response by PO1 Bobby Powell made Apr 13 at 2016 7:48 AM

PO1 Bobby Powell — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 07:48:40 -0400

Politics are the deciding factor I believe. I for one wish to keep the contracts. I believe the protect the enlisted service member. There are established means to rid the service of law breakers and others who are not living up to their end of the bargain already. I vote to keep the status quo.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2016 5:46 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 17:46:42 -0400

No, the Army will simply adjust with MOS and Skill levels they need. They adjust it every quarter and as needed already. However, commanders have the option to BAR a Soldier from Re-Enlistment as a part of non-judicial punishment. This type of action ensures that Soldiers not fit for the Army cannot stay in past their current contract. Thus opening more slots for those who deserve them.

Response by SSG Karl Fowler made Jun 7 at 2016 8:40 PM

SSG Karl Fowler — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 20:40:04 -0400

no, never ,absolutely not. it is a military tradition and belongs to the enlisted