A Pending Major Crisis: An Analysis of the Critical Shortage of US Army Officers in Year Groups 1991-1997
Abstract
There is a crisis pending in the U.S. Army that has received little attention, but that is having a critical effect on the military and its ability to continue its high current operational tempo. The pending crisis is a shortage of U.S. Army field grade officers. The retirement rate of officers reaching 20 years of service last year was 20%; a survey conducted for this thesis indicates that rate could grow to 60%. This loss rate suggests that by 2014, the U.S. Army may have shortfalls of 30% in lieutenant colonels and 20% in majors. The most critical aspect of these potential shortages of lieutenant colonels and majors is that they will not be equally distributed across all the branches. By 2014, indications suggest that most of the U.S. Army officer branches will face shortages greater than 50% of their requirement for lieutenant colonels and majors. The security of the United States depends on senior military and civilian leadership recognizing these issues before they become critical and reach a tipping point beyond which they cannot be resolved. Potential initiatives to correct this shortage problem are as follows: (1) conduct an information campaign (short term), (2) formalize incentive programs already in use (near term), and (3) create a monetary bonus program similar to those used for enlisted Soldiers (long term). Other more drastic options are available to address the shortages, but their second order effects may do more damage than good to the U.S. Army.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 12, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA501907
Entities
People
- George B. Brown Iii
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College