Army Officers Speak Up

By: fedweek

During a two-day tour of stateside installations after becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen heard company-grade officers say that the 1:1 dwell ratio pits their motivation against their families’ needs. At Fort Sill, Okla., on Oct. 23, an Army captain at the field artillery career course said that one year back is “just not good enough.” He said that the Army needs a dwell time of 1:3 or 1:4. Another captain said he wanted time to start a family, buy a house, and have stability. His branch officer said that family considerations didn’t bear on assignments, so the captain said he had decided to get out. Another said it was “repulsive,” because his wife was unable to return to college, with her career on hold for him as he returned, they moved, and he redeployed. The officers were not named so that they would feel free to speak frankly.