we have a long way to go from a few shortages
I would not have bothered posting about a few shortages.
The Commanding General of the Army Reserves informed the Pentagon, a coupla weeks ago, he will be 10% short in recruiting this year.
That has never happened before.
10% in a 200,000 man outfit is not a few shortages.
We have never failed to meet reserve recruiting goals since the all volunteer service began 30 years ago.
Couple that with what I have been told in three recruiting offices on both coasts and I see a trend beginning. I am going to Florida next Saturday. I'll check in with recruiters there too.
>>>1. Have we tried lowering the requirements on mandating high school diplomas?
We are way beyond the M1 and manual typewriter Army. Weapons, communications and tactics are becoming more and more complicated and you want to lower the already low education standards? That does not make sense.
>>>2. Have we offered anything near the G.I. bill to young kids graduating high school?
Yes. The Montgomery bill replaced the GI Bill. It now pays up to $50,000 in college cash for a 4 year enlistment. That is about 4+ x increase over the old GI bill.
>>>3. Have we upped the anti in regard to bonuses for first term enlistees?
Yes. Initial Army enlistment bonuses were increased to as high as $12,000 for a three year enlistment, several years ago. This will rub you though. A recruit must be a high school grad to qualify.
Army reenlistment bonuses have recently been increased to as high as $150,000. That is 10x the old high of $15,000.
Base pay and benefit increases have exceeded inflation for the past three years. Military pay including benefits and incentives is now rated within 5.1% of equivalent civilian pay and closing.
4. Has the President used the bully pulpit in a direct way to entice enlistment?
You decide. This is what his administration has done.
Here are a few 2005 changes:
Across the board 3.5% pay increase regardless of performance.
Combat pay increased from $150 to $225 monthly.
Family separation allowance increased from $100 to $250 monthly and made permanent.
Foreign language proficiency bonus increased from $100 to up to $1,000 monthly.
Reenlistment bonuses used to end at 14 years. That was increased to 16.
Reserve reenlistment bonuses have been increased from $10,000 to as high as $15,000 and it can be paid in a lump sum now.
Reserves have a new $6,000 bonus for attending OCS.
SGLI, servicemen's group life insurance increased from $250,000 to $350,000 effective 1 Oct. New annual increases built in thereafter.
A family death benefit pay of 12 months pay has been added. If the serviceman dies due to hostile action it is 24 months.
A number of other benefits...including drawing subsistence allowance when hospitalized, Major increases in Tri care benefits for reservists and NG members, GI Bill benefits for reservists and NG.
I must say somebody else saw the shortage coming and has taken huge steps to try to address it with money.
If we pay all 1.4 million servicemembers an additional $75,000 per year in salary increases, bonuses, benefits and incentives, the Pentagon budget goes up $100 billion annually.
unclewest |
