Any statistics on the attrition rate in the military...

[kentuck]

How many are re-upping and how many are getting out? How many have decided that maybe the military life is not for them? Even those GIs of the 3rd ID that Bush was commending this AM must realize that it is just a matter of time before they get their orders to return to the Great Sandtrap called Iraq? Unless our allies bail us out by sending troops in to relieve us, these same soldiers will find that they might be heading back to Iraq in 6 months or so. This would be so demoralizing, in my opinion, that the Administration would be hesitant to do it. They would lose the military vote. But, even a bigger loss, would be the admission that they have lost Iraq.

[pw]

1. I thought there was still a stop-loss order in effect

Which would mean that leaving isn't an option for most.

[wuushew]

2. I am so glad you bring up the term stop-loss order

Every couple of weeks DU goes on a crazy spate of draft threads. Forget it people the draft is dead. It is far easier just to force people who are already serving to serve longer. As long as the input of people joining up is equal to or greater than retirements or discharges there will be no manpower shortage.

[AndyTiedye]

5. Are They Going to Keep Them Over There For the Next Thirty Years?

Once potential enlistees realize that if they enlist they can never get out,
there will be very few enlistees.

There will also be more soldiers shooting themselves in the foot, etc., if that is the only ticket home.

They will certainly keep them over there until the election, both because they need the troops, and to keep them (relatively) quiet. If they let them out, they have no
control over them. They really don't want a bunch of angry ex-GI's stumping for the Democratic opposition. That could make a large hole right in the middle of the Bush* base.

[kentuck]

3. I hadn't heard about that....

Seems that would only make people want to get out quicker...

[RamboLiberal]

4. Don't know about reelistment but they claim their

recruiting is meeting or slightly exceeding their goals even to Reserve/Guard units. Find that hard to believe. I do see a number of stories on individual soldiers saying when their term is up they're out.

Where I think it may hurt them is if their NCO's and junior officers say the hell with it.

BTW, I remember seeing a story wherein the number of academy graduates who stay only for their minimum ccommitment is quite high - there's a inside term for it among the grads that I can't remember. Uncle Sam is wasting his money on them it seems. Course they probably become high paid Repugs in business.