Obvious question then...
How do attain “critical skills”??? Time in rate, re-enlistments...
If the two privates are not considered to be retainable for opportunities for “critical skills” you cannot learn without a little time in, then where does that leave us???
Your two privates are not going to be encouraged or retained if the impetus is to release them regardless if they have the evaluations, and or experience attained at that point in their enlistments if this trend continues...
Remember how we are told this is an ALL Volunteer force in this country...
Well, at this rate we have pretty much lost that pool because of these policies...
A lot of kids WANT to serve, they want it to mean something, it is important to them and they are motivated to sign on the dotted line...Destroy those virtuous ambitions and you destroy our armed services...Period...
“...How do attain “critical skills”??? Time in rate, re-enlistments....”
Those are handled a number of ways that work together.
For critical entry level skills that are having a hard time drawing volunteers there are enlistment bonuses.
Others that have lots of volunteers but are technical with long training requirements they will have required time in service remaining requirements at graduation.
A private is worth a private’s pay. He/She is expected to be proficient at their tasks. To be considered for advancement they need to show the potential of mastering the next skill level. Get promoted, master the tasks, show potential for the next level, get promoted and keep repeating.
It makes no sense to retain a soldier who can only be a good private when you have time in service pay increases. Otherwise you would have a 20 year time in service private earning more pay than a 3 year sergeant.