USA Today: Guard survey hints at exodus

[jburton]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-01-22-guard_x.htm

Guard survey hints at exodus

By Dave Moniz, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Just as the Pentagon is increasingly relying on the National Guard and other part-time troops for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, an internal Guard survey suggests that the demanding deployments could prompt a significant number of its soldiers to quit the military.
A recent survey of 5,000 soldiers from 15 states showed that the rate at which Army Guard members choose to leave the military could jump — to 20-22% a year among those who have served long overseas tours, typically 12 months.

Last year, about 16% of all Army Guard troops left the military as a result of retirement, injuries or a decision not to re-enlist, a figure slightly below the annual historical average of 18%. Among Guard soldiers returning from deployments in the USA and overseas from 2001 to 2003, only 12.5% left, statistics show.

The survey results are raising concerns, given the strains on Guard and Reserve troops and widespread worries that part-time soldiers are being relied on too much in the war on terrorism. Some 97,000 soldiers — about 28% of the 350,000-member Army Guard — are now on active duty in the USA or overseas.

[Dover]

1. As I understand it, what's happening to the Guard is similar to

what's happening in many jobs....using part time workers for full time positions without increased benefits or salaries to match. So regular army and service people actually have it better in that regard.

[saigon68]

2. They are getting out in Droves

Bwa--HA-HA-HA

[Moderator]

3. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=326819