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Re-enlistment rates exceed Army estimates

Jun-27-2005 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

Soldiers from the 3/2 & 1/25 SBCTs are featured in the following article from Michael Gilbert.

Link to Full Article
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune

New recruits are hard to find, but the Army is having no trouble persuading the soldiers it already has to stick around.

They’re re-enlisting at rates well above the Army’s goal for this fiscal year, attracted by a mix of tax-free bonuses, educational opportunities and other benefits. Many are re-upping under stability plans that allow them and their families to stay at one installation for several years, rather than cope with the constant moves that typically are part of military life.

And while the war in Iraq is cited as the major reason for Army recruiting woes, re-enlistment rates at Fort Lewis and elsewhere are highest among soldiers returning from the war, career counselors said.

“There are a lot of benefits to staying in right now. The re-enlistment bonuses are great. College options are there,” said Sgt. 1st Class Devon Roy, 30, an air defense artilleryman at Fort Lewis. He re-enlisted in August in Mosul to spend the rest of his career – another 12 years – in the Army.

“But there’s also that warrior ethos. There’s pride from going over there and doing your job,” Roy said. “There’s a lot of guys who have been there and have a sense of camaraderie, and a sense of responsibility to still do the mission, to finish the job.”

A total of 1,002 soldiers from Roy’s unit, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, re-enlisted while they were in Iraq last year or just after they returned home in October – exceeding the Army’s goal by about 25 percent, Fort Lewis officials said. In some returning units, Army officials say they as much as doubled their anticipated number of re-enlistments.

Army-wide, retention is running at about 107 percent of the annual goal, officials said. From Oct. 1 through May the active-duty Army re-enlisted 45,333 soldiers, ahead of its goal of 44,172.


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