Thousands more mid-level NCO’s are leaving the Army than in each of the past two years, forcing the Army to increase its use of pay-to-stay programs and find other ways to keep GIs in the fold.

Four years into the fight in Iraq, the Army continues to be successful in retaining enough soldiers overall, but that success masks a growing problem within the ranks: Fewer mid-grade sergeants are opting to stay in the Army as many face yet another deployment to Iraq – and, more important, Army officials say, less time at home.

While a reenlistment shortfall in any Army group is cause for concern, many consider the declining rate among mid-grade sergeants to be a sign of potential bigger reenlistment problems for the Army down the line. In addition, the fact that more mid-level NCO’s are leaving could have a long-term impact on the Army’s ability to grow future leaders.

The Army has seen the reenlistment rate of mid-grade NCO’s drop 12 %, from 96% during the first quarter of 2005 to a low of 84% for the first quarter of 2007. As of March, the Army is as much as 10 percentage points behind where it was in retaining mid-grade soldiers at that time in 2005 and 2006.

Read (Christian Science Monitor)