JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON –
Cutbacks in manpower are already underway and many in the ranks have had questions and concerns about the reductions.
Who is staying? Who is going? Because of the major restructuring of the Army, Command Sgt. Major Charles Smith from the U.S. Army Human Resources Command came to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Feb. 6 to speak to noncommissioned officers on how the Army will reduce its ranks and, most importantly, how Soldiers can prepare themselves to be strong candidates for retention.
Smith said with the loss of brigade combat teams and other elements throughout the force, the Army must reduce its ranks to meet those losses.
"One of the main tools we're going to use to bring the Army numbers down is the Qualitative Service Program," Smith said. "The Army has to get down to 490,000 by October 2015 and then further reduce to 450,000 by 2017."
Smith said the Army will ask a lot of quality Soldiers to leave, based on over-strength military occupational specialties and stagnation. Those MOSs have been announced in a Headquarters Department of the Army message.
Another tool is the Qualitative Management Program, Smith said. The QMP applies to NCOs in the rank of staff sergeant through command sergeant major that have adverse actions within their military file, such as a court-martial conviction, Article 15, adverse NCO evaluation reports and course failure DA Form 1059s (service school academic evaluation reports).
Once Soldiers know the criteria for reducing the force, how can they work on staying in the Army?
"As the Army is downsizing, Soldiers can remain competitive by continuing their military and civilian education," Smith said. "They can increase their General Technical scores; complete the required structured self development courses and broaden their career by completing competencies outside their MOS such as being a drill sergeant or recruiter."
Other areas Smith emphasized to stay competitive is having a current official photo with the Army service uniform. Also, make sure enlisted records brief matches military files and most of all, stay free from adverse actions.
For more information, visit the Army Human Resources Command website at https://www.hrc.army.mil/Enlisted/Qualitative%20Service%20Program%20QSP.