With the end of the war in Iraq, and as the conflict in Afghanistan draws to a close for U.S. forces, the Army is reshaping its force and tightening the standards for Soldiers who plan to remain on active duty.
As of March 1, the Army's retention program has called for brigade-level commanders and above to ensure that only the best-qualified Soldiers are retained within the Army ranks and to deny reenlistment to Soldiers who are not considered among the service's best.
"Soldiers who are not qualified for reenlistment or who have an imposed bar to reenlistment do not meet retention eligibility standards and will not be offered the privilege of reenlisting. The reenlistment qualifications for all Soldiers outlined in Army Regulation 601-280, paragraphs 3-8 and 3-9 continue to apply.
"It is key that we retain high-quality Soldiers who have the most potential to help shape the Army," stated a memo, from Army Secretary John M. McHugh, dated Feb. 2,
Soldiers serving in the grades of staff sergeant and above and who are not serving on an indefinite enlistment contract are considered unqualified if they have:
A relief-for-cause noncommissioned officer evaluation report
"No" listed in Part IV of their Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report, which pertains to Army values/attributes/skills and action of the graded NCO.
A senior rater rating of 4 (fair) or 5 (poor) in Part V, Overall performance and potential of an NCOER or, if they have a Service School Academic Evaluation, DA Form 1059, indicating a failure in the NCO Education System Course.
McHugh added in the memo that the Army may reconsider the qualifications of some NCOs, on a case-by-case basis and those being reconsidered, should submit a waiver through their command channels.
Another method used to ensure that only the Army's finest Soldiers are retained, the Army secretary has directed commanders to prevent the reenlistment of Soldiers who have lost their primary military occupational specialty qualification because of their own actions.
Soldiers who have been denied the potential for promotion on their command-integrated list are also being barred.
No exceptions will be made for any Soldier who uses or abused drugs and alcohol, McHugh added.
"An incident involving the use of illegal drugs or alcohol within the current enlistment and reenlistment period, resulting in an officially filed letter of reprimand, or a finding of guilty, under Article 15, Uniform Code of Military Justice, a civilian criminal conviction or a conviction by court marshal," will also be barred, McHugh stated in the memorandum.
He also added that any Soldier who is considered absent-without-leave for more than 96 hours during his current enlistment will be barred from reenlisting.
"Over the next few years, our Army will reduce its end strength and shape the force for future requirements. As we begin this deliberate process, it is imperative we retain those Soldiers with the greatest potential for future service -- ones truly deserving to remain a part of our Army team," said Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Army chief of staff in a letter to Army leaders.
"To help us get to our desired end strength, we will fundamentally change the active component retention program. This will provide our brigade-level commanders the flexibility and agility needed to retain those who best meet the needs of our Army, " the general added.
Command Sgt. Maj. Darrin J. Bohn, the top enlisted Soldier for the U.S. Army Forces Command said there are several benefits that Soldiers can take advantage of to ensure they are among the best qualified.
"If we're talking about a long-term career in the Army, our Soldiers and their Families should target the benefits and opportunities available right here at home," Bohn said in a previous article.
"Those considerations include taking full advantage of the Army's tuition assistance program for enhancing civilian education, in addition to rounding out the Soldier's military education through advanced military occupation system training and specialty training -- Ranger school or Master Gunner's school, for example.
"There's also some excellent experience which comes from the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, also known as TRADOC, including drill and Advanced Individual Training instructors," he added.
Bohn recommends that leaders send their best noncommissioned officers to these positions, since these instructors are the ones who will teach Soldiers and show them what right looks like.
Odierno acknowledge that reshaping the force will require toughness on the part of Army leadership and it will require their direct involvement to make the best decisions for the Army.
"Tough decisions are ahead," he said in his letter. "Some fully qualified Soldiers will be denied reenlistment. To be successful, leaders at all levels must be personally involved in the retention program. Commanders must carefully assess their Soldiers and ensure only our best Soldiers are retained to meet the needs of our Army."
McHugh summed up the Army's new initiative during a recent interview at Fort Bragg.
"Just being good enough is no longer going to be good enough," he said before a press conference with members of the local media March 27.
"It behooves every man and woman in the United States Army who wants to be retained to know that they're going to have to strive to work harder to achieve greater and higher levels and if they can do that, we'll be proud to keep them on as part of what is our objective of remaining the greatest land force the world has ever seen."
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