National Guard Soldiers Lining up to Sign up in Iraq
Taji, Iraq - The National Guard Bureau released its new policy on re-enlistment bonuses that took effect Dec. 14, 2004. The Army National Guard tripled its bonuses for possible returning Soldiers in an effort to keep the ranks filled.
Sgt. 1st Class Chris Burks, a retention officer currently stationed in Iraq with Arkansas' 39th Brigade Combat Team, saw two to three Soldiers a month who were willing to raise their right hand for another stint in an organization increasingly relied upon for oversees duty. But since the new policy took effect, he has signed up 16 Soldiers within his brigade in just nine days.
"Money talks," stated Burks bluntly.
The new policy raises six-year re-enlistment benefits from its original $5,000 to an unprecedented $15,000. Soldiers may also elect for a three-year extension to accept $7,500 rather than commit to a lengthy six-year obligation.
Over the past year, the National Guard has seen a large increase in the number of deployments and its growing need to retain Soldiers, Burks said. This need prompted officials at the National Guard Bureau to create bonuses proportional to the Active Army's.
"These dollar amounts are unheard of," Burks said.
The impressive sum of greenbacks isn't for everyone, though. They are tied to critical job shortages throughout the Guard and select high action units. Each state identifies units that are critical, or are critically short in personnel and makes them eligible for the incentive, Burks said.
Jobs seen most crucial at this time generally include those combat related, such as the infantrymen, mortar men, and combat engineers. Others include vital military intelligence positions needed for the war on terror, such as analysts and linguists.
Soldiers like Spc. Melvin Wright, 34, of Conway, Ark., are lining up to sign re-enlistment papers in Iraq because if they re-enlist overseas, their lump sum bonuses are tax-free. Still, Wright, a 15-year veteran said he planned to re-enlist despite the attractive lure of money.
"You've got to like what you do first, because no amount of money is worth what you go through," Wright said. "The job is very valuable and I don't know how you could put a price tag on it. The money is just icing on the cake. Your real reward is protecting your fellow Americans."
The National Guard has also doubled its initial enlistment bonuses trying to catch the attention of those coming into the force structure from high school and college.
"They have seen the dramatic drops in enlistments over the past year and saw the need to increase the amount of enlistment bonuses to attract young Soldiers," Burks said.
National Guard and Army Reserve forces currently make up 40 percent of nearly 150,000 now serving in Iraq. Guard officials estimate the number of Army Reserves and National Guard troops serving on active duty will remain at upwards of 100,000 over the next two years.
Release #050112a
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