David Wood
Stunned by the continuing loss of its captains -- the critical, mid-career officers who command companies, the basic combat organizations -- the Army has asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates for permission to begin offering $20,000 cash to captains willing to stick it out another three years. If that doesn't appeal, the Army would give them free graduate school -- or find them a slot at the ever-popular Ranger or Jump schools.
The Army needs about 30,000 captains. Today it musters 23,554, about 1,000 fewer than a year ago. The Army will need even more captains as it adds 65,000 more troops over the next five years.
Retaining captains has always been a problem for the Army, but the Iraq war has made the problem worse. Many captains find, after commanding platoons and companies for one or two combat tours, that the thrill is gone and the price of staying in uniform too high. And there is rising anger among today's captains, with many faulting the Army's brass for mismanaging the war.
The Army is already laying out $1.3 billion a year in re-enlistment bonuses to soldiers; the cash incentive for officers would be a first.
No word yet from the Secretary's office, but this seems part of the inevitable cost of his decision last December to expand the Army and Marine Corps.
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Comments
Hmmmm... Go to fight in a futile war in iraq for 20k or school...or get paid twice as much AND have my school paid for by a top corporation in Chicago. They'll have to offer at least 300k for 3 years if you ask me.
Posted by: The Decider | June 27, 2007 5:54 PM
When you begin to loss sergeants you'll know the Army is broken. This was bound to happen because of the extended deployments these men and they're families are being asked to endure. What a mess!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | June 27, 2007 6:21 PM
Here's your big chance Swamp Chickenhawk Chairborne Commandos - to boldly go where Dubya and Darth have never gone before.
The few, the proud, the uh... you go first.
Posted by: Doug Zook | June 27, 2007 6:22 PM
Well you see, Captains are smart, street smart. Of course, that may be because they actually were part of the military, unlike some draft dodgers ruining things these days. And they recognize that the illegal Iraq occupation is not going to help anyone's career, most especially mcchimpy and the megalomaniac in chief. So yep, they are abandoning ship (to mix my metaphors) because they GET IT. Something the ear-boy and shotgun dick and the apologistas and water carriers on The Swamp, don't. In other words, "Good luck, thanks for all the fish, and sayonara mister decider in chief."
Posted by: snitramc | June 27, 2007 6:30 PM
I thought recruiting was going swimmingly!
Posted by: lochnessmonster | June 27, 2007 7:17 PM
No surprise here. And offering slots to Airborne School or Ranger School isn't going to change the exodus, particularly since these officers have already proven themselves in one, two or even three combat tours. They are voting with their feet - the Army and Marines are being run into the ground so a collection of worthless politicians can save face and not admit that the Iraq fiasco was an abomination from the very beginning. Between impossible rules of engagement, an obvious failure to train a useful new Iraqi army, the medical care scandal at Walter Reed, lack of proper equipment while Halliburton rakes in billions and the fact that the Administration and the VA are both trying to CUT additional benefits, why would any sane young officer want to stick it out? For what? I served eleven years as an infantry officer in the 70's and 80's - and the generals of today are the same rah rah handballers who didn't have a clue then as junior officers and still don't have a clue now.
Posted by: Wolfgang | June 27, 2007 7:27 PM
Those captains are voting on this war. It is hard to sell a war when your captains do not believe you.
Posted by: c. perry | June 27, 2007 8:12 PM
It is lochnessmonster. Its called a draft. They haven't expired that option yet so they think everything is going just dandy.
Posted by: AR | June 27, 2007 8:17 PM
I've noticed that we haven't had the usual fake "tough guy" Republicans (Jane D, Paulo, S Sherman, Bruce) commenting on this post.
I would expect to see these Neocon scarecrows backing up their toughguy talk by volunteering their services to the military to help stem the loss of military officers.
Does this mean they don't believe in "victory" in Iraq or is it simply that their scared and would rather have someone else continue to fight for them in Iraq while they stay stateside and talk tough?
I suspect the answer to the above question is YES, to all of the above.
Posted by: John E | June 27, 2007 10:39 PM
Sorry John E, but I'mm too much of a patriot to wish John D, Paulo, or Bruce on our military.
Our fighting men and women need the best leadership possible, those 3 blind followers of a disasterously failed President aren't worthy of leading a garbage detail.
Posted by: Tony | June 28, 2007 10:01 AM