Young Officers Leaving Army at a High Rate

New York Times ^ | April 10, 2006 | THOM SHANKER

[CatoRenasci]

I've always believed that they should recruit more officers from among the NCOs. A captain who was a sergeant would probably be a different breed of cat, compared to the guy who came from ROTC at State College.

There's a need for both kids of officers. I think we have often given short shrift to the importance of both Mustangs and Rotcees in our reliance on the kids from the trade school. (As a VMI man I look at this from a slightly oblique angle - we're technically ROTC and not trade school, but we've been through a system more like what the trade school was before WWII -- and in the Army the VMI, Citadel and Norwich men - and sometimes Texas Aggies -- were seen as a different breed). My own view is that for every mustang and trade school type we need 2-3 Rotcees from the better state universities and the elite universities. We can use the sheer horsepower they often have, and we need the leavening from the upper middle and upper classes. Mustangs are invaluable for their enlisted experience and perspective, but are sometimes -- especially as they move into field grade -- limited by it.

[CatoRenasci]

No one should wear gold or silver on his shoulders, EVER, if he won't and doesn't stand up for his men. There has to be a distance, of sorts, so that an officer can make the hard choices that sometimes have to be made to send people into harms way to accomplish a mission when he knows they are likely not to make it, but an officer who doesn't do everything possible for his troops deserves to be cashiered.

[JoeGar]

The NYT headline is misleading. Near the end of the article it states, "In 2001, but before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, 9.3 percent of the Army's young officers left active duty at their first opportunity. By 2002, the number of those junior officers leaving at their first opportunity dropped to 7.1 percent, and in 2003, only 6.3 percent opted out. But the number grew to 8.3 percent in 2004 and 8.6 percent in 2005." Therefore, fewer officers today are leaving active duty than before 9/11.

[68skylark]

Yeah, their chart (posted at comment #2, I think) shows the same thing -- fewer officers are leaving now than before 9/11.

[xarmydog]

I fully agree with your assessment.More times than I care to remember,I have seen it happen.Unfortunately,it takes a lot to get rid of an officer,and an NCO,no matter how incompetent if they are 'connected'.Some I have served under were just horrible.I remember one time while in an NCO meeting,as a 19 yr. old buck Sargent,with all the NCOS in attendance,telling the First Sgt.that there was no way I was going back and tell my men what the CO had ordered them to do.We had just completed a 60 day field maneuver,and the men were completely wore out,and had not even had a good nights sleep and spend any time with their families,that they wanted them to go out for a 7 day exercise,so they wouldn't have to stand an inspection!The entire room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.No one could believe I had the hair to say that,but after I spoke,The First Sgt.said you're right!He then told us to each take charge of our own squads for'extra training'.The sighs of relief was overwhelming.The orders I gave my men was,if I see your butts on post for the next 7 days,you will regret it.When I dismissed them,they disappeared.Yes I could have gotten in trouble,but we had not even cleaned our gear from the last exercise.It was a classic case of make work due to the incompetence of The Company Commander.When they returned,the men were fresh and ready to go.Things of that nature led to a very high divorce rate among the men.Fortunately we had a very good First Sargent which made all the difference in the world.I felt sorry for the men whose squad leaders continued to dog them for a few brownie points.You could see the difference between their men and mine.Most of their men looked like ghosts upon their return!

[stuartcr]

I've always wondered what it is about man, that makes it ok for some to send others to their death? You certainly wouldn't find this sort of behavior in the animal kingdom.

[CatoRenasci]

We'll we're both more and less than the animals -- which is something of a flip answer. I don't really know the answer to your question. War is a funny thing, but not something we can wish away.

[stuartcr]

Unfortunately not...and they say that animals don't have souls!!

[Radix]

Twenty eight years?

Quitter!



Thanks for your service.