Posted on Aug 2, 2014
What is really going on? If you are notified in Combat? Really?
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Army Cutting 500 Majors Starting Next Week
Aug 01, 2014
Military.com, by Richard Sisk
About 500 Army majors, some of them now serving in Afghanistan, will begin receiving notices next week that they must leave the service as the Army cuts troop strength to meet budget cuts, the outgoing Army vice chief of staff said Friday.
"We don't want to do this," but the Army has no choice under the constraints of the Budget Control Act and the Congressional sequester process, said Gen. John F. Campbell.
Many of the 1,100 captains who were cut earlier this month were serving in Afghanistan and "the same thing probably will happen with some of these majors," said Campbell, who has been confirmed by the Senate to take command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
Reductions in force are always difficult, Campbell said, but informing "the ones that are deployed is certainly the hardest."
Earlier this month, the Army said that at least 48 of the 1,100 captains handed "pink slips" had been serving in Afghanistan.
Campbell spoke at an off-camera briefing with reporters that was his last as vice chief at the Pentagon. He was taking a brief leave before reporting to Afghanistan later this month to replace Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford as ISAF commander.
Immediately following Campbell's briefing, the Army put out a release stating that majors receiving notices who are now serving in Afghanistan or other areas overseas "will be returned to the United States within 30 days of their notification to begin their transition from active duty and ensure they have the maximum time and resources available for a successful transition."
The cutbacks were part of the Army's plan "to draw down its end-strength to 490,000 active-component soldiers by the end of Fiscal Year 2015," the statement said.
The so-called "hit list" for the 500 majors was determined by decisions of recent Officer Separation Boards and Enhanced Selective Retirement Boards, the Army said.
The Army suggested that more cuts were coming: "As a result of future budget restrictions previously passed by Congress, the active Army will further reduce its end-strength by 20,000 Soldiers in both 2016 and 2017" to an Army force of about 450,000, the Army statement said.
Campbell said there were opportunities for majors transitioning out of the active-duty service to take positions in the Reserves and the National Guard.
The Army also pointed to the new "Shifting Gears" partnership of the Army, Raytheon and General Motors to allow transitioning troops to receive training and possibly be placed in service technician jobs at GM dealerships.
Aug 01, 2014
Military.com, by Richard Sisk
About 500 Army majors, some of them now serving in Afghanistan, will begin receiving notices next week that they must leave the service as the Army cuts troop strength to meet budget cuts, the outgoing Army vice chief of staff said Friday.
"We don't want to do this," but the Army has no choice under the constraints of the Budget Control Act and the Congressional sequester process, said Gen. John F. Campbell.
Many of the 1,100 captains who were cut earlier this month were serving in Afghanistan and "the same thing probably will happen with some of these majors," said Campbell, who has been confirmed by the Senate to take command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
Reductions in force are always difficult, Campbell said, but informing "the ones that are deployed is certainly the hardest."
Earlier this month, the Army said that at least 48 of the 1,100 captains handed "pink slips" had been serving in Afghanistan.
Campbell spoke at an off-camera briefing with reporters that was his last as vice chief at the Pentagon. He was taking a brief leave before reporting to Afghanistan later this month to replace Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford as ISAF commander.
Immediately following Campbell's briefing, the Army put out a release stating that majors receiving notices who are now serving in Afghanistan or other areas overseas "will be returned to the United States within 30 days of their notification to begin their transition from active duty and ensure they have the maximum time and resources available for a successful transition."
The cutbacks were part of the Army's plan "to draw down its end-strength to 490,000 active-component soldiers by the end of Fiscal Year 2015," the statement said.
The so-called "hit list" for the 500 majors was determined by decisions of recent Officer Separation Boards and Enhanced Selective Retirement Boards, the Army said.
The Army suggested that more cuts were coming: "As a result of future budget restrictions previously passed by Congress, the active Army will further reduce its end-strength by 20,000 Soldiers in both 2016 and 2017" to an Army force of about 450,000, the Army statement said.
Campbell said there were opportunities for majors transitioning out of the active-duty service to take positions in the Reserves and the National Guard.
The Army also pointed to the new "Shifting Gears" partnership of the Army, Raytheon and General Motors to allow transitioning troops to receive training and possibly be placed in service technician jobs at GM dealerships.
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There is some hyperbole here:
"Many of the 1,100 captains who were cut earlier this month were serving in Afghanistan"
**One Sentence Later...
"...at least 48 of the 1,100 captains handed "pink slips" had been serving in Afghanistan."
You cannot call 4% "many." This article is designed to get people stirred up.
Of my cohort, (YG 08) for those that got let go, there is only one where I don't know why. I disagree with protecting a less qualified Officer over a more qualified Officer based on geo-location. Sudden cuts to the force will have ramifications through out the Army no matter where that Soldier is stationed.
Remember that the decision was made based on the total picture of the Officer and the needs of the Army. I really don't see how being currently deployed - a fact the board most likely had at the time of their decision - makes a difference. Yes, they will be extra bitter, but so will someone who just bought a house, or just had a baby, or whatever else was disrupted by this.
I am glad that they are going to bring them back to the US immediately.
"Many of the 1,100 captains who were cut earlier this month were serving in Afghanistan"
**One Sentence Later...
"...at least 48 of the 1,100 captains handed "pink slips" had been serving in Afghanistan."
You cannot call 4% "many." This article is designed to get people stirred up.
Of my cohort, (YG 08) for those that got let go, there is only one where I don't know why. I disagree with protecting a less qualified Officer over a more qualified Officer based on geo-location. Sudden cuts to the force will have ramifications through out the Army no matter where that Soldier is stationed.
Remember that the decision was made based on the total picture of the Officer and the needs of the Army. I really don't see how being currently deployed - a fact the board most likely had at the time of their decision - makes a difference. Yes, they will be extra bitter, but so will someone who just bought a house, or just had a baby, or whatever else was disrupted by this.
I am glad that they are going to bring them back to the US immediately.
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SFC A.M. Drake
CPT Ann Wolfer I thought I was the only one that caught that misnomer in the article, regarding the ones let go, you are correct in that it does not matter where they are serving at the moment, I do have a concern on recruitment and retention...if you think those affected will not tell their loved ones, friends and others about how the military let them go. Well for everyone let go,they will tell the next 200 young Americans not to join, do the math if they tell the next 200 see where this is going? Not a good picture, since it's less than 1% that actually serve in the Armed Forces!
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I understand why this has to happen and know it wouldn't be easy for everyone to know their career is almost done. I put some thought into the CPTs/MAJs that are serving CONUS and down range and trying to come up with their reactions to the notifications. I would like to say that most may know and possibly anticipate the notifications are coming since they know their career status. Now there will be some that this will sneak up on them. So far, I don't know of any former peers I worked with that this applies to.
It is competitive now and all must do their best. Performance, potential, and ability to lead Soldiers all take into account. OERs will be enumerated and must show and convince the boards that the officer deserves more for a promotion. Also, not all officers will make it out here and is reason why they were either passed up for promotion or did something wrong to end their careers. I for sure wouldn't want to tell another officer that he/she has to leave the service; especially if they are in combat when notified. Again, the US Army has to reach the end strength numbers by the set years and regardless where the officer is at it will be carried out. Only the top performers with unlimited potential are allowed to continue to remain as leaders and honestly, that is what the US Army needs to survive on the future battlefields.
God only knows if I may be on the list for the 09 cohort year group for those being cut. So far, I'm doing very well but, anything can happen. If it does, I can only give thanks for the opportunity and move on in my life.
It is competitive now and all must do their best. Performance, potential, and ability to lead Soldiers all take into account. OERs will be enumerated and must show and convince the boards that the officer deserves more for a promotion. Also, not all officers will make it out here and is reason why they were either passed up for promotion or did something wrong to end their careers. I for sure wouldn't want to tell another officer that he/she has to leave the service; especially if they are in combat when notified. Again, the US Army has to reach the end strength numbers by the set years and regardless where the officer is at it will be carried out. Only the top performers with unlimited potential are allowed to continue to remain as leaders and honestly, that is what the US Army needs to survive on the future battlefields.
God only knows if I may be on the list for the 09 cohort year group for those being cut. So far, I'm doing very well but, anything can happen. If it does, I can only give thanks for the opportunity and move on in my life.
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