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The military is raising its recruiting standards, making it much more competitive for young men and women to enlist.
The military has long been the job of choice for thousands of young men and women graduating from high school without any specific plan other than a desire to see the world, serve their country and maybe earn a bit of money for college in the process.
That option is becoming less available as the military begins to scale down in earnest, especially the Army, where recruiting requirements are increasingly more stringent and more soldiers are finding themselves unable to reenlist. Also, with the poor job market for many college graduates, more recruits with at least some college under their belts are seeking job experience through the military.
In short, it is becoming more competitive than ever to secure a spot in our nation’s Armed Forces.
At its peak during the Iraq War, the Army numbered about 570,000. As of the end of March, it was down to 558,000. By 2017, the Department of Defense plans to trim ranks to 490,000 soldiers.
Army officials hope to accomplish most of the necessary cuts through increased recruiting standards and voluntary separations. But Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno has warned that as much as a third of the cuts could be involuntary, potentially forcing career soldiers out of the military before they secure retirement.
Earlier this year, Army Secretary John McHugh outlined the new criteria for denying reenlistment, singling out soldiers who have received a letter of reprimand for incidents involving drugs or alcohol, or those who did not qualify for promotion in line with their time in service.
During the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army was forced to lower its recruiting standards in order to meet mission requirements, allowing recruits with a wide range of disciplinary issues to enter the service. These could be anything from a misdemeanor like shoplifting or assault all the way to a felony conviction for robbery or manslaughter. Exceptions were also made for recruits with low aptitude scores or a history of medical problems.
In 2006, 2 in 10 Army recruits entered the military through some type of waiver. By 2007, it was nearly 3 in 10. This trend continued until 2009, when Defense Department officials disseminated new guidelines that lowered the number of individuals allowed to enter the military on waivers.
As of last year, only about 10 percent of recruits entered the Army on a waiver, and most of those — about 7 percent — were medical waivers. The Army accepted no new recruits with a history of drug or alcohol abuse or any kind of misconduct conviction, according to a recent report by The Associated Press
Waivers continue to be a source of contention among military officials. For some, it allows smart, capable recruits who have come from troubled backgrounds an opportunity to serve. For others, soldiers who enter the military with disciplinary, medical or alcohol problems often continue to struggle and are the source of additional problems throughout their careers.
The problem with this kind of initiative is it’s difficult to quantify what makes a good soldier, much less a good leader. The soldier with the highest test score is not necessarily the one you want next to you when the bullets start to fly.
Good leadership is something that takes time to develop, and the military has invested a lot in the current infrastructure. How much of that could be lost in the coming months is anyone’s guess. Experience, unlike education, is not so easily acquired, and if the military is not careful, they could end up losing some of their most experienced soldiers.
Photos courtesy of Robert Couse-Baker.
46 Comments
Why would anyone sign on that dotted line now?
Yes. The money and benefits are great.
Really, what benefits are you speaking of? I’m a 20 yr veteran and when I signed on the “dotted line” I was told that I would be provided medical care at no cost to me for the rest of my life: now I have to pay for it and what is not considered a “disability” by the VA then they send you a bill for the care. What happened to those “benefits” that you speak of? I get a tax break on the items bought in the post/base exchange or commissary, that’s it. Gas is not any cheaper then off installation. Where are the benefits that “are great”???
why are you at the VA if you are retired ?
Geez, My husband and I are both 20+ years retired and we have great benefits. Not sure what your problem is.
For the same reason they signed before, Pride, adventure, military family, steady pay, good benifits and a 20 year retirement. Why would you not?
What retirement? They kicking you out so they don’t have to pay the benefits. This is happening, NOW!
Is the Military just going to keep redeploying our men/women over and over again because they don’t have enough recruits to replace the ones that have been deployed several times ?
Will it only be intellectuals that will be recruited in the future? Will it be then like our universities and colleges today, that when called to fight, they will claim objector status, because of what they were taught in grade school and college? HMMMMM, just wondering!
Good God! I was an 18 year old high school dropout with absolutely no idea what to do with myself, but knew the path I was going down would not be pretty my family was poor, but I knew that I wanted something better for myself so I enlisted, in the peak of the Vietnam war. Needless to say, I survived and became a teacher, small business owner, and school principal. I also learned to do what was expected of me, on time, correctly, neatly, and to exceed expectations. I learned to respect myself as a man, a father, and an American. I learned courage; To do what must be done, and most of all – I learned to try, and so much more. Those years were the absolute best in my life.
Unfortunately Brad, times have changed from the Vietnam era. A lot of people do go in and come out better, but these days, a lot of people go in and take their baggage with them. There are more drug dealers, gang bangers, and low-lifes who just don’t want to listen to authority than ever before. I have been saying for years that they needed to raise the standards but I guess the need for troops during these wars outweighed the need for quality recruits. It’s about time they did this.
Then you failed as a leader.
I have said over and over”Bring ALL of our troops home and close our borders!” That would keep our troops busy for CENTURIES ! If we cut the wages of ALL senators and congressmen AND their ridiculous retirement programs that they NEVER paid in to, we could afford they money to pay our military! ( off the subject for a second=we need TERM LIMITS FOR ALL PEOPLE HOLDING A GOVERNMENT OFFICE !!! That would change the U.S.ofA. from a government that cares about THE GOVERNMENT to a government that cares FOR THE PEOPLE AND COUNTRY !!) That is all this boils down to is not being able to pay them their retirement or raises that they have EARNED and DESERVE ! The reason for the standards being raised is due to the fact that they(military)have gone so high tech it takes a college grad to understand how it all works!! The BEST people next to me in Nam where the drop outs and trouble makers! If you wanted FIGHTERS, they were the BEST. Back then you EARNED your rank. (at least from what I experienced) People retired at 30 or more years because they CARED and BELIEVED in what they were doing.
If the government is not careful and something happens they MAY wind up reinstating the draft and you think we had trouble with people leaving the country during the draft of the Vietnam era, the next one will clean out the country of eligible persons!! I am here to tell you I am not sure I would like my life protected by what would be left!
Sorry for bending your ears and thank you for the opportunity to express MY opinion !!
The Teddster ( Ted Hardin)
Amen, from what I hear some of the people we have in now cannot pass a basic physical training test or simple marksmanship. What can we do about term limits, equal pay for soldiers and a new congress that believes it is an honor and privilege to serve your country. Lets get rid of the parties everybody independent and vote the issues. Maybe an online polling/voting system. No lobbyist back door profits, insider secrets, do what they were put there to do improve/stabilize our country not serve self interests.
you civilians don’t get it…we close our borders and we’ll be fighting them in our backyard….your backyard…then you’ll be bitching about why we are not going overseas and fighting…you will never be happy and are not seeing the whole picture !! We are overseas to keep the fight out of our borders…WTF??!!!
In the first place BRO I done my time in Nam and my time in the US Army !! WTF!! In the second place if we close the borders and send ALL illegals home our economy would pick up and the battles would be at the borders. That is better than fighting them IN the country !! If we spread what little troops we are going to have left all over the world we will not be able to protect the USA !!! WAIT ! Maybe that is what you want?? WTF !!
I guess this is why my recruiter is not calling me back. I guess since I made a mistake in life the military will not take me back in. That really stinks!
A lot of the changes need to be dropped. I was in over 10 year’s and on the E-5 promotion list but they kept messing me around on my 2 part MOS test and I was forced out because I did not have the rank for the amount of time in service.
This is just another example of our government taking from individuals that really have no other choices in life to get ahead other then joining the military. If we truly need to downsize we should start with getting rid of the lying, thieving politicians that we have in Washington. They are the first ones to send men and women to war but the majority wouldn’t step up and serve themselves. The American public need to stand up and say that the politicians need to have term limits and start cutting their own pay andbenefits that they have so lavishly bestowed upon themselves. I do not recall ever voting to giving these lowlifes in office the perks that they receive at taxpayer expense.
As a 26 yr veteran of the military ——–I luv my retirement check -comes like clockwork ——-not that happy with tri-care but in conjunction with my wifes insurance we are fine ——— I miss the military on occasion —— Dont miss Iraq or Afgan or Kosovo or Panama ———–but i do miss the people i served with
Drafted 66 arty. Two grandsons out of school , told them just keep in mind if you are not ready to kill try other job. KEEP IN MINE richman do lieying poor man do dieing. One went to oil field ,other went to marines. I got lucky came back brother in laws name is on panel . like to Thank all that serve our great country, Thank all our vets and pray for them . . jim ,.///
Here is an idea, boot camp for ALL coming out of Highschool, those who want to stay in, if they pass the guidelines, can stay in.
I totally agree, I tell everybody this. Can you imagine the impact on our country if our youth were taught discipline and a new respect for our country.
(The courage and confidence you build by surviving boot camp. Testing your physical and mental limits. I think it should be mandatory to serve one year in the armed services for all our youth.) The value of their citizenship. How lucky they are to be born in America. I admit we have an awful lot wrong but if your spent anytime in a third world country you would totally appreciate how blessed you are. People are so comfortable with complacency and forgot about the “ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.”
I agree with you, but I would make it a mandatory 3 years. It can be waived until after college. I have seen to many people with total disregard for the sacrafices that our Military men and women make. I am a Democrat and do consider myself liberal. You may belive that these people are left wingers, but I have seen this attitude from people who consider themselves conservatives. I totally support our military. Having served for six years in the military I know it is the men and women who enlist that are the backbone of the military. Not all the high tech equipment which congress is ready to buy weather it is needed or not. Put the money were it counts. In decent pay and housing for servicemen and their families. Nothing makes me more sick to my stomach than to watch alot a flag wavers whom never have served or would serve that dont appreciate the sacrafices made on their behalf!
Every. Other country requires 2years of service the. U.S.A. should require 2years of active duty maybe it would change the minds of all the gang members and teach respect an responsibility
And why do you see this as a change? This falls under the history repeats itself theory. This trend has repeatedly happened since the end of Nam. Especially with the Daddy Bush cabinet. When needed, the forces will beef back up. Maybe we should bring back the Draft when needed. If money is the problem, maybe we should quit building workout shops in a deployment area.
Takeaway building workout shops in a deployment area, obviously you have not been in an environment where your only escape and stress reliever is to workout. My son was the equivalent of EMS on the front lines in the Army, he pulled the troops off the front lines and made sure they were transported for care. He has saved many a life, but the stress of what he has seen is unfathomable unless you have been there. His escape was to work out. I promise you, a workout shop is a lot less waste of money than other things done by our government. What else would you like to take away besides our overworked, underpaid, overly deployed away from family, and lousy living conditions while our troops are deployed? God bless our troops and keep them safe!
I think necessity is at the basis of recruiting practice as in the past and will continue to govern recruiting as long as we need large numbers of boots on the ground or sea dogs to man the Navy ships in war time conditons facing foes with large formations of combatants.
It has always been that way after a war. I remember after viet nam a lot of really good men had to get out and helicopter pilots were demoted to e-5 or 6 . I thought it was a disgrace that a lot of experience soldiers were removed by desk jockeys in d.c. .
With the leadership in the White House, IMHO, I wouldn’t be surprised if the last statement in this article is exactly their aim. Our military is being dumbed-down just like our education department and its students. Why? In order to be less effective against our enemy. We need a smart, strong, and prepared, experienced military to protect our country, not whimps.
I signed that dotted line 10 yrs ago still in high school as eager as the next person. Now I am an honorably discharged vet with epilepsy. Because the seizures didnt start til one year after I got out of active duty, I dont get but 20% disability, I have had 3 wrecks, and this last one, I broke my back. I cannot go back in, but I am still proud each time I see an American flag waving in the air. Totally dependant on my parents at almost 29 with a 6yr old is hard as hell as a single female, but it aint the Army’s fault.
Stephanie, APPEAL and keep appealing. Stay on the VA’s butt. Talk to a patient advocate at the VA Hospital. You deserve more compensation than 20%!
try to find a VA where they have woman ctr because the ones that dont do not know how to treat woman vets…. active duty major friend of mine was in desert storm and came home and had a brain anureius and a yr later breast cancer…. she went to DEL VA and they treated her like crap. Go to a woman ctr in tampa and they treat you with respect. She is appealing her decision.
“more soldiers are finding themselves unable to reenlist”
then they aren’t soldiers are they?
Yes,Unkel Sam will take care of you for life.
Santa and the easter Bunny will do the same.
I never thought I was a brave person. I joined the USMC and went to Vietnam and found out that I was braver than most. It cost me a few wounds but in the end I found out who I truly was.
IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO TURN A BOY INTO A MAN!
I say this is good. I am disgusted by some of the people that they let into the Army now. They let thugs in who won’t let go of the “street”. They let incompetent people in who you have to teach how to tie their boots. Sure, some people have made mistakes in life. I’ve made plenty, but I think that some professions should be held to a higher standard. When someone calls themself a service-member or a vet, you should automatically get a picture of a clean cut individual with high morals and principles. That’s not the case anymore.
Thank your recruiter(s).
I joined in 1988 and our NCOs talked about the “new Army”, today I am retired and I still hear the term “new Army”. Of course things are different now from then. Better in some ways, but others things lost (or misplaced) in others. Some of the results of these changes are from the “old Army” making changes for the better for the “new Army”. It always amazes me how tough we had it “back in the old Army” The truth is our Soldiers (our sons and daughters “old Army”) will prevail just as you did and fall into the ranks of “old Army”. A lot of what a Soldier becomes is installed in him/her from home. Yes, everyone loves the underdog story about how the drop out, drug dealer, gangbanger made it, but these stories are far fewer than the reality of most do bring problems in and take away time from those that deserve the positive attention of our good leaders. Let’s call it like it is..our military deserves the best. It is our tax dollars, it is the life of your bright child driving the vehicle the loser claimed to fix, but didn’t. another way to think about it is…. do I want a car that has already shown signs of engine failure or do I want to spend my money on a car that has a proven record?
Very interesting as the cutbacks are happening the PA Air National Gaurd is promoting 55yr old men to E-9 filling up slots where the feds could send this experience, but i guess this a typical gaurd problem these days
I agree with this article/post. I agrre in so many levels, but like always we the ‘blue collar’ recognize. While the ‘white collar’ may visialize and never recognize. R. ACOSTA Veteran United
States Marine Corps 1stMarines
I AM A VIET-NAM ERA VETERANS WHO VOLUNTERED TWICE AND SERVED 12 YEARS. WHEN I ENLISTED THE FIRST TIME I ONLY HAD SEVENTHTH GRADE OF SCHOOL AND FINISH HIGH SCHOOL IN THE ARMY. I GOT OUT WITH HONORABLE DISCHARGE AS AN SPECIALIST FIVE AND WITH AN ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL. I AM PROUD,VERY PROUD TO SERVED MY COUNTRY IN TIME OF NEEDS.WHY REQUIREMENTS HAVE TO VE SO TIGHT NOW? THANKS
Thank God! We only need the best.
I couldn’t agree more with that last paragraph. I have heard stories from the sailors I have led about the lives they lived and now they are sailors of the year. I don’t think the military should get more “stringent”, but perhaps hammer down on those idiots who get through the cracks and then do spice or drugs and we sit on that for six months to a year before doing anything.
As one of the types who fought not only in Vietnam but both Iraq and Afgan —Retired in 2008–i have seen troops who are amazing and some i wouldnt want next to me in any situation -Todays youth are soft the are coddled by thier parents in most cases But most do rise to the occasion and become good troops after some “instruction” lololol