As separation rates plummet, military getting more selective

[unhappycamper]

As separation rates plummet, military getting more selective
By Erik Slavin, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, November 22, 2009

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Fewer servicemembers are retiring or leaving the military than at any time in the past five years, according to Defense Department data.

Retirements and separations have dropped about 29 percent since fiscal year 2005 and 15 percent since 2007, according to figures requested by Stars and Stripes from the Defense Manpower Data Center.

The numbers sound good to leaders concerned with retaining experienced servicemembers, but they also mean slower promotions and involuntary separations in some cases.

While the Army is growing, the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps all recently have begun measures to prune underperforming personnel from their active-duty ranks.

Earlier this year, the Navy expanded the Perform to Serve program to include all sailors E-6 and below with 10 years or less of service. It also convened its first Senior Enlisted Continuation Board, which aimed at requiring underperforming chief petty officers with at least 20 years of service to retire.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=66226



unhappycamper comment: The economic draft worked!!1!