Wait, so the SA grad who serves their 5 years and separates from the service is selfish?
Nice broad brush you're using there, bro.
Most of these folks have had more on their plate and done it better than their peers for over a decade by the time that 5 year mark rolls around. Fulfilling their commitment and all of the entailing sacrifices regarding family and personal events that are missed because of that obligation might make someone interested in what the rest of the world holds for their skill set and experiences. They might want a job where they can plan something out more than a month away... They might want a career where they aren't babysitting alleged adults 24/7. They might want a job where constraints and restrictions aren't simply at the whim and ego of their superiors, but rather the needs of the organization to which they belong. Some of this crap wears on a person, regardless of their level of commitment.
We're not talking about someone deserting or going UA, but rather fulfilling the commitment agreed upon when they first accepted that appointment. They work their asses off in school and then take on some of the most challenging roles in the military, and after they've fulfilled the 5 years, that isn't enough?
I don't think anyone has implied that any grad is selfish for leaving after their original obligation. The article says nothing about being selfish, what it does say is that they are looking at the cost attached to the SA and how the length of obligation compares overall, this is nothing new, for example.
1) Both my sons branched Aviation, because of the length and cost of flight school their original obligation was extended by 2 years.
2) Those that attend grad school have their obligation extended because of the cost incurred.
3) AF Pilots have a much longer obligation due to the cost of their training as well as Navy and Marines.
4) The CG has a nearly 11 year obligation for pilot joining.
5) WOFT is already looking at extending the original obligation to 8 years because of the time and cost of sending them through BCT, WOCS, and flight school.
Again, extended obligations are nothing new and have no connection to someone being selfish.
If service members go to special training or switch branches they have extended obligations. My son left Aviation and went to SOF and his obligation was extended in part due to the cost of nearly 2 years of training.
All the article said and what some have echoed here is that the cost of a SA has grown to 200K plus and the Military is simply looking at whether they need to extend that obligation to match what is spent, no different then what is done all the time in the military. I'd have no issue if the military looked at extending the service obligation to even ROTC cadets that attend private universities that have an annual cost in line with the SA's
"Most of these folks have had more on their plate and done it better than their peers for over a decade by the time that 5 year mark rolls around. "
Could you expand on this, I'm curious about how most of them have done it better then their peers during their obligation, and just because someone did not attend a SA doesn't meat they had an empty plate.
Also, it may come as a surprise but those that did not attend a SA have the same sacrifices during their obligation as well as the same experiences and skill sets. Looking for opportunities outside the military is not exclusive to SA grads.
I sincerely hope that the SA's are not instilling into their cadets and mids that enlisted members of the military are "alleged adults" and that their job is babysitter.
