RECRUITING WOES: A CASE OF SELF SABOTAGE?

The U.S. military is struggling to recruit and it's not just quality, it's quantity as well. The all volunteer force is at risk. Falling recruiting rates can be compensated for by higher retention rates for a time, but eventually the lack of new talent will be felt across the force. Allison Abbe is in the studio to discuss a recent article in which she points out policies that have created the insular military communities that may be raising retention but harming recruiting. Allison joins podcast editor Ron Granieri to explain her thoughts on the three policies that might be doing more harm than good, and how they could be changed for the better. Are we improving retention perhaps, by providing all of these services and benefits on military installations, while at the same time we may be hindering recruiting in the long run because those military families are not interacting in the civilian community as much as we might hope. Allison Abbe is professor of organizational studies at the U.S. Army War College and teaches courses in strategic leadership, inclusive leadership, and defense management. She previously served in defense and intelligence organizations as a research psychologist and program manager. She holds a PhD in social and personality psychology from the University of California, Riverside. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Times Square Recruiting Station Photo Credit: James D'Ambrosio, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters