Signal Corps Retention: The Incentive Plan Won't Help

摘要

The officer incentive plan was designed to retain young captains in the U.S. military long enough to make the rank of Major. Once they make Major, most officers have 10 years of service. Normally, an officer who has 10 years of military service will probably stay in longer. Unfortunately, the incentive plan will not work for the Army Signal Corps. It is like putting a band-aid over a wound that won't stop bleeding. Today, signal officers are arriving in their units barely trained after a communications crash course that should be 6 months, not 13 weeks. These officers are completely unprepared for the hardships of a Signal Officer. In addition, civilians in their units expose them to a better way of life with twice the pay and without the military hardships. All in all, the incentive plan is a waste of taxpayers' money when it comes to Signal Officers, because when they finish their incentive obligation, they will leave the military for civilian life.