Thread: Life in the Military today

From: http://www.thecommandtoc.com

Life in the Military today:

I am on many bulletin board sites interacting with soldiers to collect first hand what it is like to be in the Army today. I was recently shocked by the description of the career of an officer, who screwed up it is, and why they are all getting out. Here, I re-post this entirely and hope you read it. It should tell show you that even if this officer is 1/2 right, the Army is a disaster and not just stretched but actually broken. Here goes:

"For the benefit of those who haven't been in active service for a while, here is a look at lifecycle management's effect on officers.

Most BCTs fall under what is called lifecycle management. This was created to provide stability and predictability and intended to be a 3-year cycle from stand-up thru deployment, however in practice its more like 2 to 2.5-years (much to the chagrin of HRC). Lifecycles are stop loss/stop move environments. Once you're in, it is difficult to get out (possible, but not likely. Its ultimately up to the BDE CDR). Lifecycles culminate upon redeployment. To help you understand the lifecycle, I'll use an example of a new BCT."

"Unit stands up, receives soldiers (officers, ncos, privates), fields equipment, and trains for its deployment. This is supposed to be a 2-year process, but has generally become a year (especially for IBCTs). All CPTs come directly from the Career Course and most walk right into a command while the remaining CPTs go to staff positions to await command (as is traditional). Selection for company command resides solely with the BDE CDR. 2LTs fill all other company grade positions, to include company XO and various unfilled staff positions.

The unit hut, hut, huts through train up and CTC rotation.

During the course of this, each maneuver BN will likely Chapter out approx a company-sized group of unfit Soldiers. The green-LTs drink heavily from the firehose. Prior to deployment, much of the equipment fielded for training is returned to AMC for use by other BCTs on another installation, some equipment goes on deployment. This is serious azzpain for 2LTs in XO positions.

During the deployment, some of the LTs will rotate between PL and XO positions, some will be stuck as Battle Captains in the TOC. Depending upon the BDE CDR's take on his CPTs, some will rotate out of command, some will get a second command, some will remain in their present command. (In my BCT, approx 7 CPTs had over 30 months of CMD time, while others had none. Again, this is totally up to the BDE CDR) LTs are boarded and all become promotable to CPT (unless they have a General Officer LoR or other serious infraction). Field Grades likely remain in their positions for the whole lifecycle (e.g. 2.5 years as the BN S3).

Redeployment: 60 to 80% of the unit goes away (PCS/ETS/RET). All LT(P)s move. There are two catagories of LTs: those staying in and those getting out. Regardless of their choice, they either go to the Career Course or to another assignment of some kind to serve out their ADSO (ITB, Old Guard, RTB). Post-CMD CPTs go on to the usual assignments (AC/RC, JRTC/NTC, Recruiting) unless they Functionally Designated into an FA. Those officers go to the training for their respective FAs. Non-post CMD CPTs may stay as the continuity for the next lifecycle. If they've been on-station for 24-months they can move, but will likely stay, as they SHOULD be going into command during Reset.

Reset: This is a period of time (about 3-months) between redeployment and the new lifecycle and contains Changes of Command, Dinning Outs, Hails and Farewells, PCS/ETS/RET clearing, etc. Red Cycle (Post Support) begins. This is also when the unit begins receiving its new Soldiers - Field grades from ILE, Career Course graduated CPTs, and new 2LTs.

Rinse and repeat.

So, the old model is gone. Now, a new officer completes his commissioning and training and goes to his new unit. If he's married, he settles his family in and will get to spend approx one-year with them (CTC rotations not withstanding). If he's single, he gets an appartment (doesn't make sense to buy). Then he deploys for 12 to 15 months. Then he comes back and if married moves his family to where ever his Career Course is (for 5-months), if single he finds temp lodging until he PCSs to the Career Course. Then he moves them to his new post, settles in for a year and deploys again.
Young officers who are family oriented do not see the Army as a good career option. Depending upon their family/personal situation, they will typically do 1 or 2 lifecycles prior to resigning.

Resignation is now a different process too. There are no more REFRADs, as all officers are now RA. Resignation is simply telling the Army you want to ETS. You can submit your resignation NET 12-months prior to your ADSO completion date or NLT 6-months prior to the date you want to ETS. BN and BDE CDRs have no say in this other than a requirement to counsel the officer on the benefits of continued service.

So that is a snap shot of what its like these days. As someone who served as an enlisted soldier in the 1980s, I can tell you that the Army has changed a great deal. Maybe its a function of my age and stage of life, but I can tell you that it certainly isn't "fun" anymore, and as always, you probably love the Army far more than it loves you. I cannot say that I will stay in until I can achieve an AC retirement, but I will do another lifecycle. After that, I will likely return to the USAR where there is a great deal more flexibility and opportunity to do different things."


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