INSCOM Retention Program surpasses goal for first time since 2012

By Kenneth BlanchardNovember 1, 2020

INSCOM Retention visits CSA McConville
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Left to right) Sgt. Maj. Jack Ryan, command career counselor, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM); Master Sgt. Ian Mason, INSCOM retention operations; Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James C. McConville; Special Agent Regina Patterson, 902d Military Intelligence Group; Master Sgt. William Schaffhauser, senior Army retention operations, Department of the Army G-1; and Sgt. 1st Class Frances Curd, career counselor, 902d Military Intelligence Group; pose for a photo following Patterson's reenlistment ceremony at the Pentagon, Oct. 19, 2020. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Craig Cantrell.) VIEW ORIGINAL
CSA reenlist SA Patterson
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James C. McConville presents Special Agent Regina Patterson, 902d Military Intelligence Group, with a certificate after providing her with the Reenlistment Oath, in his office at the Pentagon, Oct. 19, 2020. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Zachary Perkins) VIEW ORIGINAL

The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command's (INSCOM) leaders are making a difference across the enterprise every day through Soldier retention by embracing the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fighting through significant setbacks and trying to achieve results with limited face-to-face opportunities, the retention teams adapted to achieve the command's mandated end-strength goal with effective counseling and mission management, exceeding the command’s goal with a total retention rate of 104 percent.

Sgt. Maj. Jack Ryan, INSCOM command career counselor, credited his staff and INSCOM's major subordinate command's (MSC) career counselors for sustaining the force by retaining willing and capable warriors.

"The INSCOM enterprise achieved mission success for both fiscal year mission categories for the first time in over eight years, all while during a pandemic with geographic challenges," said Ryan. "This achievement directly supports the advancement of INSCOM's readiness, the military intelligence and cyber corps capabilities, and shows the enduring commitment of this command to the people that make a difference."

Ryan noted statistics from fiscal year 2012, which implemented force reduction tools and minimal retention requirements, and said through fiscal year 2019 INSCOM has not previously met its goals to retain Soldiers before they leave the Army.

INSCOM’s command sergeant major thanked Ryan and the MSC career counselors for the hard work they put in during fiscal year 2020.

"It is a team sport and your counselors and retention NCOs (noncommissioned officers) make the difference on the field every day," said INSCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Will Rinehart. "Keep up the good work, continue to overproduce, and let me know where I can help."

As part of INSCOM's retention efforts to continue exceeding mission retention requirements and inspire Soldiers and leaders to achieve organizational and personal goals that advance collective capabilities, Ryan and several career counselors escorted Special Agent Regina Patterson, 902d Military Intelligence Group, and her family on a visit to the Pentagon on Oct. 19.

During the visit, Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James C. McConville, reenlisted Patterson in his office. The visit included a meeting with Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston and a Pentagon tour by Master Sgt. William J. Schaffhauser and Master Sgt. Jose Reyes, Department of the Army G-1.