US army battles to keep soldiers

[Spr.Earl]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3373121.stm


On Tuesday in Baghdad, many businesses and government buildings were closed as the 83rd anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi Army was commemorated.

US soldiers in Iraq know they are a target
Security is always tight here, but on public holidays it is even tighter, and there were real fears the insurgents would use it as an excuse to launch an attack.

For the US soldiers here, it was not much different from any other day.

They know they are a target. They patrol the streets in full battle dress, rarely leaving their vehicles to mix with the local population.

In recent days, the attacks on coalition forces have increased again - up by a third in just a week - to around 22 each day across Iraq.

That means that most of the time they stay behind the walls of their heavily fortified bases, except when they are out on patrol.

Morale ‘high‘

So will the extra money the Pentagon is offering persuade some of the troops to sign up for three years more of the same?

"Morale right now is relatively high," says Captain Tyrone Simms of the 1st Squadron 2nd Armoured Division, "and the offer of extra money helps that."


Extra cash may outweigh the risks for US soldiers
Captain Simms‘ men had been told about the plans 24 hours earlier.

"I think some of them will stay on for more than three years," he says. "They‘ll look at the army and the job they‘re doing now and they‘ll say, ‘Hey, I‘m going to get paid a little more, I may as well stay in to make the money instead of getting out and taking the risk of trying to find a job‘."

Lieutenant Scott Baber from the 1st Armoured Division, who was with an armed patrol in the street outside, agreed that the proposals would help to bolster morale.

"It‘s a good idea. It will help the army by increasing retention."

Incentive

But would soldiers feel it was worth the risks they face here every day?

After all, more than 215 US soldiers have been killed since President Bush declared an end to hostilities on 1 May.

"I think they know the possibility of danger is part of the job," says Lieutenant Baber. "That will certainly be a factor in whether they take that incentive or not but certainly the incentive will make quite a difference to retention."

The ordinary soldiers in both patrols were not allowed to talk to the BBC on the record, but there seemed to be widespread agreement that the bonuses were a good motive for people to stay in rather than leave.

What was less popular was the announcement that those who were determined to retire or to leave the service may have to put their plans on hold until three months after they finish their tour of duty here in Iraq.

Several thousands of soldiers are likely to suffer from that change in the rules.

Their bosses, though, say there is no other option if they are to maintain the cohesion and the combat effectiveness of their operations here in Iraq.

 

[Spr.Earl]

US army battles to keep soldiers


Critics say the US does not have enough troops
The US army is introducing a series of measures to prevent soldiers serving in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan from leaving the service.
Those who were planning to retire or leave in the next few months will now have to remain with their unit.

Soldiers whose terms of enlistment have expired will be offered up to $10,000 to serve another three years.

An army spokesman said the moves were designed to maintain cohesion and combat effectiveness.

BBC Pentagon correspondent Nick Childs says it is another sign of the strain the US army is under because of the operation in Iraq.

He adds that it will encourage critics who say the military simply does not have enough troops.

Leaders

The "stop loss order" to troops currently in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan means they will have to remain in service while their units are deployed - and for up to 90 days after they return to their home bases.

It suggests just how strained the military is in trying to provide for the Iraqi occupation plus all the other US obligations around the world

Ted Carpenter
Defence analyst


Analysis: US overstretch
Cash incentives
Our correspondent says there are already some stop loss orders in place and US army officials are playing down the significance of this planned new extension.

But he adds that it could mean real hardship for some soldiers.

Army spokesman Major Steve Stover said the order would affect about 7,000 soldiers currently in Iraq who were either due to end their service or retire before their unit redeployed.

They are likely to be in leadership positions because of their level of experience.

"The combatant commanders said that if you replace them by taking them out now, it‘s going to cause turbulence and confusion, because you‘re taking away key leaders at a key time when a unit is currently in operation," said Major Stover.

Force rotation

Ted Carpenter, a defence analyst with the Cato Institute think tank, said the stop loss decision went against the concept of volunteer military service.

"Clearly, if large numbers of personnel have their terms extended against their will, that violates the principle of volunteerism," he said.

"It also suggests just how strained the military is in trying to provide for the Iraqi occupation plus all the other US obligations around the world."

US military officials say re-enlistment bonuses are a common practice, albeit perhaps not normally involving such large sums.

The BBC‘s Chris Hogg, in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, reports that US army officers there say that some of their men and women will be tempted by the offer of extra cash to sign up for more years in service.

He says this is in spite of the 20-plus attacks on coalition forces each day in Iraq.

Captain Tyrone Simms of the 1st Squadron, 2nd Armoured Division, told the BBC: "Morale right now is really high, but the extra money will definitely raise morale."

The new measures come as the army is embarking on a rotation of its forces in Iraq. Among the first combat units to return from Iraq, beginning this month, will be the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

 

[RCD]

In Canada they paid us to get out.
Only in Canada, go figure.

 

[albu]

In germany you have to go at time for 10 month to the army or alternativly 12 month to any social work (like working at hospital..). That makes germany not a military big nation, but some of those young people take the chance to be soldier as a job - and they stay forever or 10 year or 12 or whatever. But in any case - if german soldiers go abroad - they go max. 6 month - and noone comes and tells them -" hey - stay a little bit longer..." - no chance! The only way is, that the SOLDIER tells, I want stay longer - but even this is checked by medical care - and finally they decide and not Mr. G. Schroeder (chancellor of germany)