LAT: Army's Rising Promotion Rate Called Ominous

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON — Struggling to retain enough officers to lead its forces, the Army has begun to dramatically increase the number of soldiers it promotes, raising fears within the service that wartime strains are diluting the quality of the officer corps.
....
The higher rates of promotion are part of efforts to fill new slots created by an Army reorganization and to compensate for officers who are resigning from the service, many after multiple rotations to Iraq.

The promotion rates "are much higher than they have been in the past because we need more officers than we did before," said Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman.
....
But the recent trends in promotions have stirred concerns that the Army is being forced to lower its standards to provide leaders for combat units that will be deployed overseas.

"The problem here is that you're not knocking off the bottom 20%," said a high-ranking Army officer at the Pentagon. "Basically, if you haven't been court-martialed, you're going to be promoted to major."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-officers30jan30,0,1693991,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[meganmonkey]

2. "...if you haven't been court-martialed, you're going to be promoted

"Basically, if you haven't been court-martialed, you're going to be promoted to major."

That's great. I'd sure feel confident if I had a kid joining the army that they would have competent leaders :sarcasm:

[Debau2005]

12. I have to admit

That I love that line. My ex is deployed in Honduras, or rather soldier summer camp!, he and I don't agree on the reasons for his deployment, hence him being my "ex." He is a Captain trying to make Major. He has tried for several years, and NOW. He can ascend to the rank of Major...I may just have to break my silence and send him the link to this article...

[Canuckistanian]

27. So Lynndie England just missed the cut

Too bad for her.

[msongs]

3. this means some soldier are NOT officer material? Be all that you

can be, we're looking for a few good men, etc.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/liberaltshirts.htm

[Auntie Bush]

21. "we're looking for a few good men,"...but we'll settle for a few bad men!

[soothsayer]

4. in WWII didn't they have some 19 y.o. generals? (due to high

mortality rates in units)

[enlightenment]

1. Informative article about promotion during WWII

at this link (you'll need to scroll down a bit to see the article):
http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/wade2/wade2.asp

[IndianaGreen]

14. The youngest division commander studied was 33

But the poster you replied to may have to look at the ages during the Civil War, where 33 years of age would have been considered very old.

George Custer became Brigadier General at age 24, in 1863.

http://www.civilwarhome.com/custerbi.htm


George Armstrong Custer
(1839-1876)

[enlightenment]

31. Oh, I wasn't arguing age,

I just thought it was an interesting article. I'm an historian, so I tend to go straight for the written word -- but my focus is cultural, not military. What interested me about the article (written by a military historian, literally; a historian who writes for the military) was the discussion of the reasons why promotion patterns changed during the period. I suspect those reasons could be broadly applied to other wars.
:hi:

[underpants]

7. Never heard that before but one of the big problems in Vietnam...

was that the officer corps ranks dropped precipitously. See not everyone did what John Kerry did and volunteered and then re-volunteered to do hazardous duty. I don't want to name name or anything...

Seriously this was one of the main problems in Vietnam. It began about 3 years into our heavy involvement.

[TomInTib]

9. In my unit incompetent "officers" cost us dearly.

I get pissed off today just remembering.

[underpants]

10. Thank you

:patriot:

[ProfessorGAC]

8. WWII???

I think you might be thinking of the Civil War. (Custer was a low C West Pointer who was only about 24 or so when he became a general.)
The Professor

[Stuckinthebush]

22. Yes, and we all remember what happened to him

and his men....

It wasn't a pretty day for him.

[AnneD]

24. Had he been in Nam...

he would have been fragged by his own men, Little Big Horn would have been unnecessary.

[davepc]

26. I thought he was well liked by his men.

Just tactically inept.

[JHB]

30. In what army?

n/t

[Army]

5. Handed Out Like Candy

Promotions and awards in Iraq, that is. That's one of the incentives to come over here: "Hey, you'll probably get two promotions." It's an open joke among soldiers. I have been promoted once and was treated like a lunatic by my Sgt. Major when I didn't put in for another promotion four months later. "But you'll get it, why don't you want it?"

I'm not an officer though, I work for a living.

But it's military wide. Just crazy.

[brentspeak]

15. If you did seek the extra promotion...

...would that lengthen your stay in the Army?

[Army]

28. Not me, I'm IRR

I should have been like the smart 60% of the IRR who ignored the call up. If I had taken the promotion I would be a staff sgt when I retired, but I've only been a Sgt for 8 months. And I only took that because the Army treats lower enlisted like modern day slaves.

Kind of takes the magic out of it when they promote everyone.

[meganmonkey]

20. Welcome to DU, Army

I checked out your site - be careful out there, man.

:patriot:

[hadrons]

6. the (thankfully) brief time I was at Ft Sill, only 3 guys were promoted ..

in a year (just after 1987) ... a whole base and just 3 guys got a bump ... funny thing was that the Staff Sgt. in charge of sucking those to enlist (decent guy actually) was bitching the most

[Benhurst]

11. The World's Only Superpower

Yeah. Sure.

[Algorem]

13. This must be Clinton's fault.

[northzax]

16. well, it's a war

the single best route to promotion is to have the guy above you get killed, wounded or leave the service for some reason. Everytime someone is killed above the rank of Private, someone has to fill that slot. unless you are RIFfing, every time someone leaves the service, someone else gets promoted to that spot. Greater attrition, greater promotion.

[raysr]

17. Ha, "all chiefs"

[northzax]

18. dupe, sorry deleted

[Bucky]

19. Folks, there's another reason why you'd promote up a lot of men...

Another reason to increase the number of officers in the upper ranks is if you have a sudden influx of new troops in the lower ranks. Before both world wars the army saw rapid promotions among almost all of their officer corps... the most extreme example being Dwight Eisenhower who jumped from light colonel to four star general in a matter of months (not that he didn't deserve it).

Of course here the situation may be just the opposite. A different reason to hand out promotions is to make the guys happier and more willing to stick around when the war is clearly proving to be a drain on personnel (and the mercernary "private contractors" are bleeding off the best of the non-coms from training positions by offering the same work at 10 times the pay).

Dumb shit all around.

[ama]

32. interesting

If Iran is next will there be a draft?

[Rex]

23. Oh please...the Peter principle applies to everything

So what if you don't knock off the bottom 20%. I'm sure they will rise faster (which is the fear) in rank then the 20% above them! Just the kind of officers the BFEE needs to keep the Earth 'in line'.

[Captain Hilts]

25. Like the Confederate Air Force, everybody's a colonel. nt

[Rebellious Republican]

29. Lets all give the recruiters a hand, here are some names

They must not be recruiting in the right places, here is where they can find some really gung ho college grads. Just waiting to test their metal, true rabid supporters of the war. With their unwavering patriotism, and support for the war, and in their owns words have said "if they were needed they would go". I am surprised recruiters are not capitlizing on these toe tagable, body baggable young war hawks. :sarcasm:

>snip
Young Republicans Support Iraq War, but Not Willing to Join the Fight
By Adam Smeltz
Knight Ridder Newspapers

Wednsday 01 September 2004

NEW YORK - Young Republicans gathered here for their party's national convention are united in applauding the war in Iraq, supporting the U.S. troops there and calling the U.S. mission a noble cause.

But there's no such unanimity when they're asked a more personal question: Would you be willing to put on the uniform and go to fight in Iraq?

In more than a dozen interviews, Republicans in their teens and 20s offered a range of answers. Some have friends in the military in Iraq and are considering enlisting; others said they can better support the war by working politically in the United States; and still others said they think the military doesn't need them because the U.S. presence in Iraq is sufficient.

"Frankly, I want to be a politician. I'd like to survive to see that," said Vivian Lee, 17, a war supporter visiting the convention from Los Angeles,

Lee said she supports the war but would volunteer only if the United States faced a dire troop shortage or "if there's another Sept. 11."

"As long as there's a steady stream of volunteers, I don't see why I necessarily should volunteer," said Lee, who has a cousin deployed in the Middle East.

In an election season overwhelmed by memories of the Vietnam War, the U.S. military's newest war ranks supreme among the worries confronting much of Generation Y'ers. Iraq is their war.

"If there was a need presented, I would go," said Chris Cusmano, a 21-year-old member of the College Republicans organization from Rocky Point, N.Y. But he said he hasn't really considered volunteering.,"I'm in college right now, but who knows?" said Matthew Vail, a 25-year-old from Huntsville, Ala., who works with Students for Bush. He said he might consider enlisting after he finishes his degree at the University of North Carolina, but not until then.

"The bug may get me after college," he said. http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/090304X.shtml<snip

Here is a website they can find more patriotic types just waiting to be tapped into! http://www.youngrepublicans.com/ More :sarcasm:


Recruiters need our help and support, here are some Ideas to help them get their numbers up!:rofl:

Red Team Special Op "Lucky Strike"


Personnel: Unlimited number of two-three person strike teams.

Equipment: A pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes. Camera.

Location: Marriott Crystal Gateway

Task: Identify meeting wing. Approach entrance looking for College Republicans taking a smoke break. Offer them a Lucky Strike. Tell them, "Lucky Strike was there when we beat Tojo. It'll be there when we catch Osama. Where will you be?" Take photos or videotape.

Caution: End op if asked to leave.

posted by Gen. JC Christian, Patriot | 3:17 AM
Report to the General (0) | The French Respond

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Red Team Special Op "Tikrit Taxi"


Personnel: Unlimited number of two-three person strike teams.

Equipment: Car, camera, two signs with the words "College Republican Courtesy Shuttle to Army Recruitment Center" printed on them.

Location: Marriott Crystal Gateway

Task: Identify meeting wing. Place signs on car. Drive slowly around the entrances to the meeting wing offering rides to the recruitment center (map and directions) to people who look like College Republicans. Photograph or videotape their reactions.

Caution: End op if asked to leave. Be sure that your registration, insurance, etc is up to date. Do not do this by yourself.

posted by Gen. JC Christian, Patriot | 2:57 AM
Report to the General (0) | The French Respond
http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2005_06_19_patriotboy_archive.html