Posted on Dec 19, 2024
More than Half of Senior Army Officers Are Turning Down Command Consideration
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More than half of the Army's senior officers are turning down opportunities to command, choosing instead the stability of staff roles over the high-stakes demands of leadership, or retiring, according to internal service data.
The Battalion Command Assessment Program, or BCAP, a cornerstone of the Army's effort to evaluate leadership readiness, assesses 800 to 1,000 lieutenant colonels annually through interviews, psychological tests and physical fitness evaluations.
Historically, 85% of those participants have been deemed fit for command. Yet this year, 54% of eligible officers voluntarily chose not to participate -- a significant uptick from the 40% average opt-out rate seen since 2019.
The Battalion Command Assessment Program, or BCAP, a cornerstone of the Army's effort to evaluate leadership readiness, assesses 800 to 1,000 lieutenant colonels annually through interviews, psychological tests and physical fitness evaluations.
Historically, 85% of those participants have been deemed fit for command. Yet this year, 54% of eligible officers voluntarily chose not to participate -- a significant uptick from the 40% average opt-out rate seen since 2019.
More than Half of Senior Army Officers Are Turning Down Command Consideration
Posted from military.com
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Edited 19 d ago
Posted 19 d ago
Responses: 10
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Nature abhors a vacuum -- Big Green will go into the pool of who is left to fill those leadership roles -- the guy who graduated at the bottom of his class at Med School is still called doctor... and the Army goes rolling along...
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Lt Col Charlie Brown I would think a Lt Col turning down taking command of a unit would be a great way to make sure they never get full bird Colonel. Senior personnel are supposed to be leaders setting an example for others to follow. What kind of example does turning down a leadership position say to those under them?
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
I agree. I spent six years in command and as tough as they were I wouldn't trade them for anything!
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LTC Trent Klug
I agree to a point, Vic, Lt Col Charlie Brown, CSM Chuck Stafford.
I was a Major enrolled in Army Intermediate Learning Education (ILE). It's to make you eligible for Lieutenant Colonel. My wife got sick and nearly died after our middle child was born double club-footed while I was enrolled in the course. I went to my command and told them what was going on and that my family comes first. I had to extend to finish ILE, so all my peers moved up while I was still in school. I was knocked off the board for battalion command, and black-listed from being accepted for the War College.
The joke was on my command. I finished school, got promoted to LTC, and retired 7 years later.
I regret absolutely nothing about my choice of placing family first.
I was a Major enrolled in Army Intermediate Learning Education (ILE). It's to make you eligible for Lieutenant Colonel. My wife got sick and nearly died after our middle child was born double club-footed while I was enrolled in the course. I went to my command and told them what was going on and that my family comes first. I had to extend to finish ILE, so all my peers moved up while I was still in school. I was knocked off the board for battalion command, and black-listed from being accepted for the War College.
The joke was on my command. I finished school, got promoted to LTC, and retired 7 years later.
I regret absolutely nothing about my choice of placing family first.
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