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Carter redeux. From 1976-1980 the middle grade NCO class was raped in all branches. When Reagan took over, it took a major effort to rebuild the military middle grades, the backbone of the services.

I was active duty navy in that time frame. I can't think of one E-5 or E-6 forced to leave. The Navy would give you up too $15K and E-5 in a lot of ratings to re-up. My Chief followed me around my last six months wanting too talk retention LOL. The E-6's I knew made E-7 usually. I watched my boss in my shop go from E-6 to E-8 before I got out. The only ones who weren't given a bonus I think were the cooks. That job didn't have shortages thanks to guys from th P.I.'s

I turned down the $15K and promotion. I also turned down a next day job at the shipyard. I wanted out of Norfolk. I got out Oct 80 and went home. I married in mid 81. By early 1983 a hard recession hit my area worse than the one now has hit my area. Unable to find work I went and talked to a recruiter. The billets were pretty well sewn up. I went back to school and worked part time for V.A. on contract till things picked back up.

The military active duty had much higher End Troop Strengths under Reagan and there was an economic recession. That had a lot to do with the rebuild in itself.

BTW there was something else going on as well which started under Ford/Rummy. A considerable number of junior enlisted during my first two years got out. They got out simply by walking out for 31 days enough to be declared a deserter and went to a different base to turn themselves in. They would get Admin or BCD and be out within a couple of weeks. Carter did stop that nonsense. I'll give him that much credit. In 78 you went AWOL and when you turned yourself in you were court martialed, given brig time, and sent to a command to do your full obligation PLUS added bad time you were gone.

The AWOLs to get out did not start under Carter they started under Ford I am 100% certain because I saw guys do it. A vet from that era who is very vague about service and says I did a couple years in the Navy, Army, Air Force, likely went that route. Most employers don't ask for your DD-214 nor your discharge. I worked with guys in civilian jobs after I got out of the Navy I knew from high school who had done it.

Actually while the Corps was riffing people in 85, the Navy was hiring. I know the Navy recruiter talked to me. But it meant instant sea duty. I could not do that, so I request (and now I date myself) the Midway out of Yokuska. There were reasons as a married man I will not discuss that made the USS Midway a viable option. Navy said no, so I said no. Navy still had a lot of ships to man after Reagan and Lehman beefed up the Navy. That has changed dramatically starting in 93, over the years especially since 2001 the Navy has been aggressively getting rid of people, equipment and infrastructure. When service Chiefs use the phrase “right sizing the force”, bend over here it comes, ops...sorry...cannot use that analogy anymore!