CF retention problems

As perhaps might be expected, the Army is in the worst shape:

Keeping soldiers in the military is proving to be a difficult task as the country settles in for three more years of fighting in Afghanistan — one that is demanding more and more attention from top commanders, newly released documents reveal.

Briefing materials prepared for Defence Minister Peter MacKay show army attrition — the number of people choosing to retire or not renew their contracts — has reached 13 per cent, almost double the average for all three branches of the military.

A presentation given last fall by the army chief, Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, shows the overall size of the land force declined by 1,846 soldiers between May 2005 and May 2007, despite the success in recruiting fresh troops.

The Powerpoint slide show and other briefing materials were obtained by The Canadian Press under access-to-information laws.

MacKay acknowledged attrition is growing but downplayed its impact and insisted the Conservative government is taking steps to deal with the problem.

"I think that’s always been an issue in a competitive job market," MacKay said at the recent launch of new television recruitment ads.

"You’re always going to see offers coming that cause men and women in the Forces to consider those options."..

"One of the greatest inspirations is the patriotism when they don the uniform and the fact they are serving their fellow Canadians; the fact they are doing something that can only be described as exceptional, as historic, as timely, particularly when we see the challenges that exist globally today," MacKay said.

"I think that’s going to help with retention as well."

But the appeal to the flag goes only so far.

The Forces has contended with the lure of a red-hot economy for over a decade, especially for high-skilled jobs such pilots and doctors. It has introduced a variety of incentives throughout the years, including re-signing bonuses.

Defence officials argue that the creeping attrition rate is a predictable consequence of the aging baby-boomer generation.

But records show that 30 is the average age in the army.

Federal budget documents show the overall attrition rate in 2007-08 was 7.9 per cent, slightly higher than the 6.3-6.4 per cent the Forces had become accustomed to over the last several years [emphasis added].

"In short, despite the success in recruiting over the past few years, the higher attrition rate has hindered the (Canadian Forces’) growth," said the department’s 2008-09 report on plans and priorities.

National Defence is developing a retention survey this year to get at the causes of the tide of departures.

The seemingly never-ending stream of six-month rotations in and out of Afghanistan since 2002 has long been identified as a stress point for the army. Some soldiers currently deployed in Kandahar are on their third tour.

But war weariness isn’t necessarily driving soldiers away.

Many veterans will tell you their experience in the war-torn country is so rewarding that they would happily return. It’s the time spent in home bases back in Canada that seems the most taxing, especially for those serving with comrades or commanders who’ve never seen combat.

Here's an earlier post of Babbling's.