posted on March 14, 2006 04:11:18 PM newRecruiting success for Guardsmen
TODAY'S EDITORIAL
March 14, 2006
After three years of troubling recruiting shortfalls, the Army National Guard is now signing new recruits in record numbers. On Friday, the Guard announced 6,583 new recruits in February, which brings the five-month total to 26,000 -- the Guard's best numbers in 13 years.
Fewer Iraq deployments are clearly one reason for the good news, as are a near-doubling of the recruiting force and a doubling of signing bonuses for people new to the military. But the Guard engineered much of this turnaround with an innovative program whose core features should be studied and widely emulated across the government, especially by people who want to "transform" the workforce.
The idea behind the Guard's "Recruiting Assistance Program" is borrowed from corporate America:
Current employees make the best ambassadors -- especially when they're rewarded financially. The program has deputized 31,000 current Guardsmen as "recruiting assistants" -- that's nearly 10 percent of the entire force -- and it rewards them with $2,000 for each referred enlistee who reaches basic training or completes four months of service.
Bonus referral programs have been around since the 1960s in the private sector, but they are rare in government. Here's an example why they shouldn't be.
It is far too early for any definitive study of the program, but anecdotally most of the recruits appear to be coworkers and family members of current Guardsmen. News accounts quote Guardsmen pointing to the financial incentives as they discuss the options with neighbors, friends and others they otherwise might not approach.
The program is currently operating in only 22 states, so further gains are likely as it expands. "The goal here is to get as many Americans as possible helping to recruit the Army," Lt. Col. Mike Jones, a top Guard recruiter, told the Army Times in January.
Other ideas borrowed from corporate America have met considerable resistance in the Pentagon. Notable is Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's promising merit-based "pay banding" system, the virtues of which we've extolled on this page previously. It would radically alter the way Pentagon civilians are hired, paid and promoted in ways that emphasize accomplishment and de-emphasize seniority. It's clear enough that sclerotic unions fear those changes. They will do everything in their power to stymie them.
Referral bonuses should be a different story. Everyone should support this common-sense idea.
In the National Guard's case, the program is at least partially responsible for a major turnaround in recruiting in what until recently was a highly problematic situation. The rest of the military should watch carefully as the story unfolds.
posted on March 14, 2006 06:00:23 PM new
In other words.. . they are throwing money at the issue.
doubling of signing bonuses for people new to the military
The program has deputized 31,000 current Guardsmen as "recruiting assistants" -- that's nearly 10 percent of the entire force -- and it rewards them with $2,000 for each referred enlistee
::Referral bonuses should be a different story. Everyone should support this common-sense idea::
Here is the problem I have with this.
At $2000 a head there is a hell of an intenctive to be a little less than honest and make unreasonable promises to enlistees who, unlike in the private sector, cannot give two weeks notice when they find out they have been the victim of a snow job. There have already been documented cases of these types of things happening when there were just administrative quotas to be filled. A bounty is only going to increase the occurances.
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posted on March 14, 2006 09:48:11 PM new[Because the US plans on being at war forever] "The goal here is to get as many Americans as possible helping to recruit the Army,"
posted on March 15, 2006 07:24:40 PM new
Our version of the National Guard (the Territorials) have to turn away recruits locally since they supply all the 7.62mm and 5.56mm ammo you want. Plus if you are fit enough and have the aptitude you can even put your name up for selection for specialist units where your on-the-job training takes you to exciting places like Afghanistan, Singapore, Israel, Oman. Loads of fun skills to learn including those you'd normally have to pay thousands to learn like parasailing, kayaking, and absailing from helicopters. Did I mention free ammo for all you hunters!
posted on March 16, 2006 12:10:16 AM new
The OP reminds me of a story I heard a long time ago...it had to do with a guy named Judas and 30 pieces of silver........
And the idea of greed crazed people talking kids into getting murdered or maimed ....some of whom are friends and relatives ....is one of the sickest things I've heard.
posted on March 16, 2006 12:48:05 PM newTo All the Swing Voters in America
Pay attention to just HOW the liberals/dems/progressives and anti-war crowd support our troops.
Don't SIGN UP...it's BAD BAD BAD. Don't allow recruiters on THEIR liberal campus' nope....not if you're a TRUE LIBERAL PATRIOT. Aren't they just SO funny and such liars about how they DO support our military/troops? Yep....as seen right here once again.
They believe:
Don't support our governments military at all.
Oh....but they will continue to PRETEND they DO support our troops....
as long as they DON'T SIGN UP to serve our country.
posted on March 16, 2006 07:38:18 PM new
Personally, I think it's fine that recruiters are on campuses. Especially on the campuses of land grant colleges and universities. Private institutions are another matter, they can do what they want to.
With almost 10 percent of the guardsmen beign recruiters, there should be one on every corner of every campus.
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