West Point grads exit service at high rate

[maddezmom]

West Point grads exit service at high rate
War's redeployments thought a major factor
By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | April 11, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Recent graduates of the US Military Academy at West Point are choosing to leave active duty at the highest rate in more than three decades, a sign to many military specialists that repeated tours in Iraq are prematurely driving out some of the Army's top young officers.

According to statistics compiled by West Point, of the 903 Army officers commissioned upon graduation in 2001, nearly 46 percent left the service last year -- 35 percent at the conclusion of their five years of required service, and another 11 percent over the next six months. And more than 54 percent of the 935 graduates in the class of 2000 had left active duty by this January, the statistics show.

The figures mark the lowest retention rate of graduates after the completion of their mandatory duty since at least 1977, with the exception of members of three classes in the late 1980s who were encouraged to leave as the military downsized following the end of the Cold War.

In most years during the last three decades, the period for which West Point released statistics, the numbers of graduates opting out at the five-year mark were between 10 percent and 30 percent, according to the data.

more:http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/04/11/west_point_grads_exit_service_at_high_rate/

[Demeter]

1. That's Why the Bush Regime D of J Recruits From 4th Rate School

When you select for intelligence and competence, your "victims" don't put up with your shit. First of all, they don't have to--there are other options, places that will treat them better. Second, they have standards of what is and isn't legal, moral, etc. that you cannot subvert or command. Third, they aren't stupid (of course)!

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. I'm reading something here, between the lines.

Well, I'm also deriving my conclusion from the people I know who have children that have gone to military universities.

First, and foremost, the kids are the best and the brightest. Wonderful kids. But, the parents have already made calculations and they certainly want the Citadel or the Air Force Academy to pay for the education, but they don't really want their kids to get too involved with the messy part of military service.

I've been told that there is no obligation for military service, if you go to the Citadel; and the parents of the Air Force Academy claim that atleast they're not peons on the line. (That last part is my words, paraphrased.)

So, maybe these people never really intended to go into the military to fight, in the first place?

[formactv]

4. The best and the brightest

stay clear of the military.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. That is not necessarily true.

The young ladies, who I know have pursued their degrees in military academys or universities, were the best and the brightest. But, I don't think they really expected to actually go to battle. They weren't aggressive types, at all.

The one boy who I know enlisted voluntarily, may have had problems with his grades, but his parents are salt of the earth, and very educated. I don't know why the boy did it. Neither parent has the profile to be Republican.

[Sherman A1]

3. Read something about this awhile back

It was discussing the shortage of junior officers in the rank of Captain, the next step up, meaning that after the entry level tours are completed the folks are not necessarily hanging around to get promoted. More evidence that the Esteemed Mr. Bush has done great harm to our military.