Personnel Recruitment and Retention: Problems and Prospects for the United States

In the development of an adequate defense capability, the United States faces no more formidable problems than those associated with personnel recruitment and retention. The replacement of the draft by the All-Volunteer Force has resulted in substantially higher financial costs, which have been met by reducing force readiness and modernization. Because of its aging population structure, the United States is likely to face higher personnel costs in the next decade in competition with the civilian economy. The AV F has resulted in problems of productivity and quality of personnel needed to perform complex tasks and to operate complicated weapons systems. Although a return to conscription would provide the armed services with a broader cross-section of U.S. society and spread more equitably the burden of military service, the high turnover associated with conscription would increase training and operating costs. The author suggests that the United States, except in the event of a national emergency requiring rapid expansion of forces, will continue to rely on volunteerism. He addresses options such as lengthening the initial tour of duty and reforms is compensation structure as means toward the resolution of military personnel recruitment and retention problems.