What would be the optimal time in a unit?

2014-07-01T07:17:45-04:00

Given that the military is wanting to downsize and save money, what do you think should change in regards to PCS moves? Do you think the current timeline is cost effective? Do you think it would be more cost effective if we went to five years (or another number) on one assignment? Or do you think it is OK the way it is?

I know a lot of personal feelings will be conveyed here but let's try to think of it from a cost benefit perspective.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2014 7:23 AM

2014-07-01T07:23:09-04:00

I like this post.

2-3 years on station truly is too short a time to keep a SM at one location. It takes about that amount of time to get comfortable in your position and understand the surroundings. Also, it costs about 30-50 thousands to PCS a soldier (not counting training requirements at each post or Overseas PCS's). so if you figure my 10 years for example. I've move 5 times. 5x40,000 = 200000. Thats a lot of money to just move a soldier around the US aaaand thats a lot of Soldiers that we could possibly retain within the Service.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jul 1 at 2014 7:56 AM

2014-07-01T07:56:41-04:00

Great topic SFC Gilley. 'Back in the day' you could expect to be in CONUS for about 2 years max before being on orders to overseas. By the time I retired, this was no longer the case, but then again, the past decade of frequent deployments probably had more to do with that than anything else.
I believe something closer to 5 years for CONUS assignments would be reasonable and would be a great cost savings. Not sure I would lengthen overseas tours though especially given that there are a lot fewer positions overseas than there were 20+ years ago.
"Homesteading" used to be a death nail for career progression and I think that mindset has now shifted. It's not difficult to remain on the same installation and hold a variety of career enhancing positions and that should be the new goal.

Response by MSG(P) Michael Warrick made Jul 1 at 2014 8:08 AM

2014-07-01T08:08:12-04:00

I believe that the optimal time in a unit should be between three to four years and not longer than five years.

Response by SSG John Bacon made Jul 1 at 2014 11:17 AM

2014-07-01T11:17:55-04:00

Not sure what optimal is but I was in only one company for my entire Career. 9 1/2 years in the 372nd ICTC at Fort Campbell started as a PV2 medically retired as SSG. I was a 92Y and should have been able to move around but got fenced for deployments 3 times in a row and then denied movement by two CSM's because Commanders "needed me". Got a ARCOM as my retirement award. Said I couldn't get a MSM because I was only a SSG. WTF OVER!!

Response by MSG Martin C. made Jul 1 at 2014 11:46 AM

2014-07-01T11:46:12-04:00

I think every MOS and situation it's different a few years ago there was that big proposal to keep Soldiers at a location for a longer period of time to allow the families to have a sense of formality. I have friends of mine that have spend their entire careers at FT Bragg. The key in my humble opinion is to do those key positions of development Squad leader, PSG etc.. There are installations that have great diversity of units and you could move around comfortably obtaining new skills and diversifying your assignments at least in the Signal corps that's a option for us since all units need our services. However would homesteading be fair to someone stuck in an undesirable assignment not being able to PCS because all available slots are occupied by those who don't PCS. So there needs to be a balance 3 to 4 years is sufficient for me I personally get bored after my second year it is just my personality.

Response by CPT Dave Shephard made Jul 1 at 2014 2:18 PM

2014-07-01T14:18:05-04:00

In terms of shear cost for the Military, it is relatively inexpensive to move a service member. For example, I just moved from Seattle, WA to Boston, MA (nearly the furthest you'll ever have to move a Soldier) for an ETS and the Army quoted me approximately $8,000 to move 8,000lbs. So for moves, it would be cost effective to allow relatively frequent moves.

I think there is another cost that is harder to put a handle on. One is organizational stability. How much does it cost the Military in terms of lost productivity when key leaders move on. Another, what is the cost to the retainability of the service member? Some would prefer longer stays, some would prefer to move often to gain valuable experience.

At the end of the day, the Military has a certain value for service member retention and organizational stability and should select a PCS strategy to balance the two.

In my opinion.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jul 3 at 2014 10:35 AM

2014-07-03T10:35:12-04:00

I would go with 4-5 years with the same unit/post, after that you really start to stagnate and need the change to keep yourself and your chosen career field interesting. On the flip-side, I do know that there are some who would prefer to homestead in one place/unit as was the way it was back in the really "old school" Army of the 1800's early 1900's, nothing wrong for those individuals, but I know that after spending 6 1/2 years at Stewart, even though I split time as a Tanker and as a PLDC Instructor, it was really time to go when I PCS'd in 2006.