RSSNavy Program May Allow Sailors Time Off for Good Behavior
May 28
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I couldn’t help but notice an article in The Stars and Stripes today. Apparently the Navy is flirting with a new concept that will allow sailors the opportunity to withdraw from active duty for upwards of two years while they explore other possibilities, with absolutely no commitment to return to active duty upon completion of the program. The program will offer time off to start a family, finish a degree, or venture into the corporate world.
I tip my hat to the Navy for devising such a revolutionary recruitment tool. There is little doubt that such a program will do wonders to alleviate some of the short-term recruitment problems. It’s the long-term implications that concern me. In theory, sailors returning from a two year hiatus will come back more motivated than ever before with a new sense of purpose in life. The Navy should be a stronger, more cohesive organization with less active duty sailors held against their will – in theory.
Based on first hand experience, I can assure you that this will not be the case. I was unfortunate enough to witness a similar event three years ago when the Air Force started voluntarily separating members from active duty service. I’m confident that there will be two distinct groups of people who take part in the program: those who are talented, educated, hard workers that will discover successful careers in the civilian sector, and those who will use their two year pass to move back home and regress into their childhood selves. At the end of the two-year period, which group do you think is most likely to return to active duty? How many of these people will be willing to walk away from $65,000 jobs and return to the military lifestyle, earning less money and being deployed to sea six months out of the year.
I mentioned before that I had personal experience in this area. About three years ago the Air Force began offering a program whereby active duty members could be honorably discharged, no questions asked. There was a mass exodus of competent technical workers almost overnight. Within a matter of weeks my life had become completely miserable. Long hours, extra duty, and late night phone calls. I was surrounded by only those workers who knew that nothing better awaited them on the outside (even if they’d never admit it). I had no choice but to leave myself. I knew that staying in the Air Force meant being surrounded by incompetent workers with no life goals. So I bailed.
I sincerely hope that the Navy finds a way to make this program work. I think that it will be an amazing tool for those sailors who want to start a family or finish their degrees without concern of deployment and military lifestyle. If the program is a success then perhaps the other services will follow suit. We’ve grown so accustomed to the idea of a four-year service commitment that many people never stop to think that perhaps it isn’t necessary any more. I just hope that Navy has measures in place to protect itself, from itself.