Officer Shortage Looming in Army

[Old Eagle]

Although I do not have the maturity of John F., either chronologically or psychologically, I did live through the era he described. Ironically, some of the folks leaving the Army in the early 70s left because prospects of rapid advancement had died with the end of the war. We're probably better off without them.

Back then, there were multiple OCS courses and 3 Infantry-only classes in progress at any given time at Benning. Then came the bloodletting of the 70s RIFs. As a 2LT, I had several former captains working for me! Then by the time I got to the advanced course, ten percent of my class were active duty recalls.

In short, the stability and continuity of the 80s and 90s was probably an anomoly.

[SWJED]

More from today's Boston Globe - Army Rushes to Promote its Officers.

To fill a growing number of vacancies in the officer corps, the Army is promoting captains, majors, and lieutenant colonels more quickly and at a higher percentage than before the Iraq war, a trend that some military specialists worry is lowering the overall quality of the officer corps.

The Army, already stretched thin from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, attributes the accelerated promotion rates to the pressures of war and the urgent need for field commanders. Another reason for the vacancies, military analysts say: unit leaders are quitting the Army faster than anticipated -- after multiple tours of duty in Iraq. The shortage of captains, majors, and lieutenant colonels is especially pronounced among experienced officers who have between five and 15 years in uniform, according to Army officials.

In 2006, the Army had to promote more officers ahead of its own timetables, according to the most recent statistics. For example, the Army had a goal of promoting about 70 percent of eligible majors to the next rank of lieutenant colonel; instead, it promoted 90 percent of them to fill the vacuum. The same year, the Army advanced nearly all of its captains to majors, roughly 20 percent more than its guidelines call for.

Along with fast-tracked promotions, the Army is keeping underachieving officers instead of forcing them to retire, according to the latest data...

[John T. Fishel]

Old Eagle--

You must think I'm positively ancient! Well, I'll tell you that I just figured out what I wnnabe when I grow up - a COWBOY. And I'm well on my way to achieving my goal out here on Rancho La Espada in the heart of Oklahoma.

Bottom line is that there are many reasons for officer shortages and accelerated promotions. Many are unintended consequences of the good intentions that pave the road to hell. Still, not all unintended consequences are bad...

[Jimbo]

120mm,

HRC is not making that kind of sales pitch on the active side. They will tell you, but when board time comes, if your file isn't current, you probably are not going to make it. But, hey that is the active side.

[goesh]

Democrats of recent times seem to favor more spending on domestic agendas than Defense. I see no indications this trend will reverse itself given the steady drum beat to cut and run from Iraq. My .02 worth says the attrition problem will probably get worse.

[dusty]

As a 2LT chomping at the bit to drop the dreaded 'butterbar' stigma, I dream of an accelerated promotion - but I know that I have a lot to learn yet. My first impression of the Army was promotions were/are too quick. I came over from the USMC side as a Sgt., and automatically assumed that all indivduals wearing three stripes had been around at least a hitch ( ~4 yrs) or so. I have found that is not the case, as I have met numerous soldiers with only 3 yrs in that are E-5. They have a lot of potential, but not the TIG/TIS, to really know what is going on. I wonder if the current promotions in the officer corps won't follow a similiar path.

[RTK]

As a 2LT chomping at the bit to drop the dreaded 'butterbar' stigma, I dream of an accelerated promotion - but I know that I have a lot to learn yet. My first impression of the Army was promotions were/are too quick. I came over from the USMC side as a Sgt., and automatically assumed that all indivduals wearing three stripes had been around at least a hitch ( ~4 yrs) or so. I have found that is not the case, as I have met numerous soldiers with only 3 yrs in that are E-5. They have a lot of potential, but not the TIG/TIS, to really know what is going on. I wonder if the current promotions in the officer corps won't follow a similiar path.

Enjoy your time as a platoon leader and hang on for dear life. What happens after that will happen in due course.

It's more aggrevating being BQ'd for two years before you even get your BZ look.

[Jimbo]

RTK and Dusty,

Here is a perspective from where I sit. I am came up just as the timelines were changing. So RTK, that would put me in the cohort as your Troop commander during your Iraq rotation (I commanded a Company down the banana belt at that time, had a blue guidon) The concern that my peers have, defined as junior majors, is the level of experience and skills that the younger officers are getting, especially the platoon leaders. As a LT, I held four jobs, rifle PL, S-1, Rifle XO, and BMO. Many of my peers held similar type jobs, the key is we all had around four jobs, but at least three, with over a year as a PL. The concern we have is that as you guys promote, that there will be more discovery learning within the BN staffs. the guys you will deal with who are going to be BN S-3's and XO's are going to know that you guys haven't had as much expereince outside of KD job, but intellectually, it is very hard for many to remember that when push comes to shove, that juniro captain who is the S-4 might have only been a rifle PL and a scout PL, and that you as an XO will have to spend a little more time mentoring these Captains. RTK, I don't know what they haveyou doing at Knox, but BZ is a weird animal, don't get wrapped up in it, it is as much about who you as what know and what you have done. RTK, you ought to look at doing the MiTT thing. Dusty enjoy your PL time, it is unique and rewrding experience that only comes around once, make the most of it. Just some thoughts guys.

[RTK]

RTK and Dusty,

Here is a perspective from where I sit. I am came up just as the timelines were changing. So RTK, that would put me in the cohort as your Troop commander during your Iraq rotation (I commanded a Company down the banana belt at that time, had a blue guidon) The concern that my peers have, defined as junior majors, is the level of experience and skills that the younger officers are getting, especially the platoon leaders. As a LT, I held four jobs, rifle PL, S-1, Rifle XO, and BMO. Many of my peers held similar type jobs, the key is we all had around four jobs, but at least three, with over a year as a PL. The concern we have is that as you guys promote, that there will be more discovery learning within the BN staffs. the guys you will deal with who are going to be BN S-3's and XO's are going to know that you guys haven't had as much expereince outside of KD job, but intellectually, it is very hard for many to remember that when push comes to shove, that juniro captain who is the S-4 might have only been a rifle PL and a scout PL, and that you as an XO will have to spend a little more time mentoring these Captains. RTK, I don't know what they haveyou doing at Knox, but BZ is a weird animal, don't get wrapped up in it, it is as much about who you as what know and what you have done. RTK, you ought to look at doing the MiTT thing. Dusty enjoy your PL time, it is unique and rewrding experience that only comes around once, make the most of it. Just some thoughts guys.

Believe it or not, I tried for anything deployable after command, to include MiTT. They told me after 25 of 36 months away with both PL and Troop Command time in Iraq it was time to train LTs at the basic course. I'm here until I hit 24 months on station (which is 15 months, 9 days, 10 hours, and 18 minutes away ). Either way, my next job out of here is a major billet, one way or the other, KD or not. If I can't get an S3 job (which I've been requested for and need branch to sign off on) I'm going for a MiTT assignment. The unit requesting me already knows their window, and the SCO is already requesting me by name. We'll see what happens. Until then, I get to playing the waiting game and teach tactics in BOLC III as an SGI.

[Hippasus]

After spending some time at a corps level staff to remain unnamed, I would say that we do not have a shortage of mid-level officers so much as we have created too many positions in bloated staffs. We have too many folks working on worthless projects for too many GOs rather than in units. Perhaps if we were to eliminate some of these, in my view unnecessary, HQs, we could man the part of the Army that really matters...

[Old Eagle]

Two years in grade as a 2LT turned out to be a godsend. I was in a "learn fast or die" environment, so I tried to catch on as quickly as possible. Our infantry company had two lieutenants assigned -- the 1lt was the CO and I was the utility platoon leader (1st Plt was technically mine, but if other platoons (incl mortars) needed a platoon leader due to regulatory requirements, I was it. When the 1LT PCSed, I was asked to assume command. Luckily, an infantry advanced course flushed on us and we got in enough CPTs to handle command. The result of all this was that when I was able to accomplish myriad missions, people were in awe. Once I was promoted, everyone just expected me to be competent. Glad it worked that way and not the other way around!