Posted on 09/01/2006 9:58:10 AM PDT by SandRat
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (Army News Service, Aug. 31, 2006) – The active Army reached its fiscal 2006 retention goal one month early today when a Fort Campbell Soldier reenlisted.
Staff Sgt. Michael Obleton, a truck driver assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, became the 64,200th reenlistment since Oct. 1, 2005. Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Richard Cody presided over the ceremony.
“What a commitment. Our Army has been at war longer than we fought in World War II. Soldiers still reenlist knowing full well the dangers, knowing full well the sacrifice,” said Cody.
Obleton, of Columbus, Ga., joined the Army in 1997 at age 27. "I had a job, but I was looking for more," he said. "I was looking for a challenge.”
Obleton's wife, Sheila, is also a Soldier serving with the 101st Abn. Div. She is a sergeant first class and career counselor. Both Obleton’s hope to make careers of the Army.
Obleton has deployed to Kosovo, Bosnia and twice to Iraq since his enlistment. He reenlisted to attend the career counselor course, and received no bonuses.
“The Army has met its retention goals for the past nine years in a row and making this year's goal shows that once people join this team, they stay with the team," said Maj. Gen. Sean Byrne, director of Military Personnel Management.
"Soldiers answer the Call to Duty knowing their service makes a difference to them, their family and their nation, not to mention the millions of men, women and children in Afghanistan and Iraq," said Byrne.
“The Army reenlistment rate remains high. Two out of 3 Soldiers eligible to reenlist do,” noted Byrne, “but, we know we're going to need to pay continuing attention and give a lot of support to the families of these Soldiers.”
He credited the retention success to an updated reenlistment bonus program, targeted specialty pays and such policy changes as the one allowing Soldiers to share part of their Montgomery G.I. Bill education packages with spouses.
The National Guard and Army Reserve also expect to meet their annual retention goals by the end of the fiscal year.
In the first ten months of fiscal 2006, 109,056 Soldiers reenlisted in the active and reserve components.
Complete retention and recruiting numbers as of the end of August will be released by the Department of Defense on Sept. 10.
By the end of July, the active Army reenlisted 60,666 Soldiers this fiscal year – 105 percent of the year-to-date glide path of 57,780.
The Army Reserve reenlisted 14,369 Soldiers, or 99 percent of the year-to-date glide path of 14,400. The Army Reserve’s overall fiscal 2006 retention goal is 17,712, 1,464 more than fiscal 2005. The National Guard reenlisted 34,021 Soldiers, 120 percent of the year-to-date glide path of 28,408. The Guard’s overall fiscal 2006 retention mission is 34,875, 2,305 more than fiscal 2005.
Hit the Gaol Early, WOO-HOO!!!
HOOAH!
Screaming Eagle Mom :)
Must be that broken army that Murtha keeps talking about.
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