Posted on 04/12/2007 8:59:57 PM PDT by PAUL REVERE TODAY
WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army is struggling to convince recent West Point graduates to make the military their career. Recent graduates of the U.S. Military Academy are exiting active duty at the highest rate in more than three decades, the Boston Globe reported Wednesday. Many military specialists say repeated tours in Iraq are driving out some of the Army's best and brightest young officers.
Of the 903 officers who graduated from West Point in 2001, nearly 46 percent left the service in 2006. More than 54 percent of the 935 graduates in the class of 2000 had left active duty by this January, Army statistics showed.
In most years during the last three decades, between 10 percent and 30 percent of West Point graduates opted out after their mandatory five years of service, the newspaper reported.
You go, Girl! ODS Vet here. ;)
No I have no idea, but I don’t think it matters. I do think that in general you see a greater attrition rate among women in the military for the reasons I outlined above. It is harder for moms (and more unnatural I’d add) to leave their babies behind (and this is really really leaving them behind) than it is for dads.
It matters to me. I’d like to know the facts so the problem can be solved.
There are plenty of great officers who stay in, but many of those that stay in do so because they wouldn't’t survive on the outside, but can survive through mediocrity on the inside.
I don’t know if you’re one of them, but 99% of the people on this website would not appreciate knowing the problem and then the solution... It’s obvious to those of us that live this life day-to-day, but every time we say something we are told to “suck it up” and told that “this is what you signed up for” and so on.
Thank you so much for your prayers - we really appreciate them. There is nothing more powerful than prayer.
I smell BS here. I don’t have the stats handy right now but it is my understanding that some 20-25% of Westpointers usually leave after a few years because of attractive opportunities in the corporate sector. Let’s face it, these guys are some of the best and brightest with tremendous leadership skills and as such they tend to do well in almost all business areas. Given that the economy is booming right now, I’d tend not be take this report at face value unless someone can prove to me that they have statistically eliminated the economy factor and still came up with something significant.
“. . . sex is absolutely relevant” is I’m afraid is not entirely true. Sex is only a gating issue where physical performance is an issue. I will admit that I wouldn’t want a women to be on the ground fighting in a combat situation along side of me, but there are many studies and performance measurements where based on averages, women have an edge over men in combat roles. Women make excellent pilots and can pull more “G” forces than their male counterpart. Women can drive today’s trucks as well as men.
The first and only time a satellite has been shot down by an aircraft was piloted by a woman. Women can “fly” UAVs as well as men. Women can serve all over all of the armed forces in positions where Physical strength is not a criterion for success.
During my three tours in Vietnam, I saw a number of “West Pointers” in country. They were either spectacularly good, (the majority) or they were spectacularly terrible. Unfortunately, the latter group was allowed to be put in charge of troops. Usually they were identified as being poor and were relegated to the Motor Pool if we were lucky and before anyone got killed.
Yes. I went to the Officers' Basic Course in 1994 with a lot of West Pointers. Most of them had as much interest in being in the Army as Nancy Pelosi would have.
I know of one girl got out of the Army after 2.5 years without having to pay back any of that 6 figure education. The rest probably did the same.
Most do five years and leave. That is what is expected of them and nothing more. We should not be upset over there. They did there obligation and should be thankful. This actually opens up the officer ranks for prior enlisted personnel to become officers which could actually make the Army even better since they have experience with the Army. No need to worry about the military, they always come out looking good.
Great point. These were all Clinton appointees. The Army is better off without them. No doubt the ones who came in under our President will reverse the trend.
Clinton appointees? Man these were high school students who applied for entry into West Point. President Clinton had little to do with who got in and didn’t get in. I was on the Admissions at the Naval Academy during this time and I did not see President Clinton come into our board one single time. This is absurd that you think that Clinton had anything to do with appointing these kids. This reduction has some to do with the war, but more to do with the fact that we are at 4 percent unemployment right now!!!!! Don’t you know that??????
wonder how many are actually Clinton era students who fought to get in for the education, prestige and couldn’t wait to get out to move on to something better?
They were in school during the entire time of Clinton’s Presidency. They got out during President Bush’s time so your conclusion does not make sense. I think the reason that they are leaving is because the economy is good and unemployment is 4 percent. They get all these headhunters calling all the time. Stop blaming President Clinton for dumb stuff because there is plenty that he really did.
” wonder how many are actually Clinton era students who fought to get in for the education, prestige and couldn’t wait to get out to move on to something better?”
Thank God for your common sense on this thread. It was getting down right stupid! Sometimes I just want to throw my computer out the window after reading some of these arrogant and WRONG posts.
How many tours in Iraq have you served, tough guy?
See post # 72, Shirley.
Who do you take an oath to?
Maybe you need to take a course in comprehension. I made no conclusion, but asked in a wondering manner.
When you people get over your BDS, maybe I’ll stop placing earned blame at the feet of B.J. Clinton.
When you people get over your BDS,
First of all, don’t put me into a group that you have no proof I am in. I don’t have BDS and never have and I think it is mighty disgusting and bold for you to make accusations like this. Maybe you just need an education on how to treat people correctly.
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