Iraq duty deters re-enlistment

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20040416/ts_usatoday/iraqdutydetersreenlistment&cid=676&ncid=1473

The number of soldiers staying in the Army is falling just as the demand is increasing in Iraq.

Through March 17, nearly halfway through the fiscal year, the Army fell about 1,000 short of meeting its goal of keeping 25,786 soldiers whose enlistments were ending or who were eligible to retire. That works out to a 96% retention rate.


Last year, the retention figure was 106% because more soldiers stayed than the Army had planned. The retention goal assumes that not all eligible to stay will remain.


Military personnel experts have warned that full-time soldiers and members of the Guard and Reserve could begin leaving this year because of the strains of service, including longer and more frequent overseas missions. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged Thursday that the Defense Department will extend duty in Iraq beyond one year for 20,000 soldiers. Their time in Iraq will grow as much as 90 days.

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[Amerpie]

1. Stop-loss

The military is dealing with this through the use of the stop-loss policy which involuntarily extends a persons enlistment. We used to draft people at the beginning of their service. Now we draft them at the end of it

[ClintonTyree]

2. I'm sure............

the Pentagon will come up with some fantastic monetary carrot to dangle in front of our servicemen and women. They know there aren't any jobs on the homefront, that their employment chances are very poor after they get out. For many of these people, the Armed Forces are the only hope of getting a steady paycheck and benefits for them and their families.
The brass will offer more and more money for them to re-up until they figure they'd be fools NOT to sign again. It's worked before, and will probably work again.
If it doesn't, you can bet it's going to be very "drafty" in the United States soon.

[CRK7376]

5. In Korea

All soldiers, Warrant Officers and Officers are being offered an extra $300 to spend an extra year in Korea. For some that is a good deal. $300 bucks to stay out of Iraq/Afghanistan or if their family is here with them, but for those of us on unaccompanied tours(without our families) a year is a long time with out seeing my wife and kids except through a webcam... screw the extra $300 bucks and get me out of Korea!

[kentuck]

3. I heard Biden say he feared re-enlistment would drop off the cliff.....

He hoped not but that was his fear. George W Bush is destroying the all-volunteer army...

[teryang]

4. Army Deputy Chief of Staff

...was on CSPAN yesterday saying enlistment goals were reached, "no problem."

Hard to believe.

[qb]

6. It would be more accurate to say, "Bush betrayal deters re-enlistment"

[keithyboy]

7. How long before Bush regime totally destroys our military?

Knowing how patient the 'terrorists' are they can just wait until this Bush regime has turned our military into shell and then strike.