Young Officers Leaving Army at a High Rate, NY Times, 4/10/06

[Coastie for Truth]

Young Army officers, including growing numbers of captains who leave as soon as their initial commitment is fulfilled, are bailing out of active-duty service at rates that have alarmed senior officers. Last year, more than a third of the West Point class of 2000 left active duty at the earliest possible moment, after completing their five-year obligation.

It was the second year in a row of worsening retention numbers, apparently marking the end of a burst of patriotic fervor during which junior officers chose continued military service at unusually high rates.

Mirroring the problem among West Pointers, graduates of reserve officer training programs at universities are also increasingly leaving the service at the end of the four-year stint in uniform that follows their commissioning.

<<<snip>>>

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.

<<<snip>>>

The retention rate at the five-year mark for the West Point class of 1999 was 71.9 percent in 2004, down from 78.1 percent for the previous year's class. And for the class of 2000, the retention rate fell to 65.8 percent, meaning that last year the Army lost more than a third — 34. 2 percent — of that group of officers as they reached the end of their initial five-year commitment.


<<<SNIP>>>

De ja vu all over again at the end of VietNam -- where an entire generation of academy officers bailed.

This is a very clear vote against Bush by what should be his most loyal base -- the "career officers."

[BobRossi]

1. The machine contradicts it's self.

The "press" contradicts it's self.

"WASHINGTON — Two of every three eligible soldiers continue to re-enlist, putting the Army, which has endured most of the fighting in Iraq, ahead of its annual goal.
The Army was 15% ahead of its re-enlistment goal of 34,668 for the first six months of fiscal year 2006, which ended March 31. More than 39,900 soldiers had re-enlisted, according to figures scheduled to be released today by the Army."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-04-09-army-re-enlistments_x.htm

You cannot believe the "press", bottom line.

[Coastie for Truth]

2. GIVEN THE ARMY'S "HEADCOUNT"

THAT IS VERY LOW RETENTION. THE RE-ENLISTMENT GOAL OF 34,668 WAS PROBABLY SET UNREALISTICALLY LOW - SO THAT THEY WOULD MAKE IT.

[soldier101]

5. Officers do not re-enlist.

Officers serve until their contract is up, but unless they resign their commission, they keep it. Which means they can be called up even after their contract expires.

Enlisted soldier re-enlist. Therefore these re-enlistment rates and retention of junior officers are totally unrelated.

[zbdent]

3. Wait, isn't there some sort of "stop-loss" mechanism for Officers?

Or is that just the enlisted grunts who are called up weeks after being shipped home?

[Coastie for Truth]

4. There is - and to some extent it is in effect for those

in theatre, training to go to theatre, or just back.

But that leaves the other 2/3's - 3/4's ......