Low Quality Recruits -Don't Want to Go to War with Them, Can't Go Without Them: Their Impact on the All-Volunteer Force

摘要

The United States' All-Volunteer Force (AVF) is embroiled in the longest ground combat power intensive conflict in its history. The Army's massive need for Soldiers has placed so much strain on the Army recruiting system that at times recruit quality has been sacrificed to achieve sufficient troop strength. If this is true, then how much of an impact does the drop in quality have and what is the repercussion. This monograph examines low quality recruits and their impact on the AVF. The scope of this research covers the time period from the end of the last draft, 30 June 1973, until the present, and the research explores the possibility of a definitive link between lower Army entrance standards and negative impacts on the Army. This research shows how lowering entrance standards increases the potential number of applicants in the recruiting pool by allowing previously ineligible people to enlist in the Army. The measures that were investigated to determine low quality recruits negative impact on the Army are the number of recruits discharged before the end of their enlistment and retention. Also, this monograph examined what mitigating systems or processes the Army has established to prevent low quality recruits from negatively impacting the AVF. The AVF continues to exceed the expectations of its framers, and comprises the best military force in the country's history. Failure in the Vietnam War resulted in national angst about the draft. Political and senior Army leaders do not want the AVF to fail. Therefore, it would seem that the U.S. has placed almost all of its bets on the AVF. The current conflict has stretched the AVF near the breaking point and its vulnerabilities have been realized. Selective Service continues to be funded and administered by the government as a potential option in case the AVF is stretched beyond its elasticity.