Army National Guard Clearing Yearslong Backlog of Enlistment Bonus Payouts
The Army National Guard has made major strides in clearing a mountain of unpaid enlistment bonuses that had lingered for years, new service component data shows. As of January 2024, it owed bonuses to about 56,000 soldiers — incentives worth up to $20,000 that are largely used to attract recruits to high-demand positions.Today, that backlog […]
The Army Is Losing Nearly One-Quarter of Soldiers in the First 2 Years of Enlistment
The Army is grappling with a staggering attrition rate among newly enlisted troops, even as recent recruiting figures suggest the service is clawing its way out of a yearslong enlistment crisis. Nearly one-quarter of soldiers recruited since 2022 have failed to complete their initial contracts, according to internal Army data reviewed by Military.com. While the […]
Army Recruiters in Miami Will Pass Off Paperwork Duties as Service Tests New Strategy to Boost Enlistment
The Army is set to launch a pilot program in January at two recruiting stations in the Miami area designed to cut through the red tape bogging down military recruitment. Recruiters there will concentrate exclusively on pitching the benefits of military service, leaving the paperwork and administrative tasks to other support staff. The dramatic change […]
Army Guard Revamping How It Doles Out Enlistment Bonuses After Tens of Thousands of Soldiers Went Unpaid
The Army National Guard is revamping its system that pays out enlistment bonuses, automating much of the process, after Military.com reporting revealed the service component has an extensive backlog of unpaid troops. In October, Military.com reported that the service was behind in paying out thousands of soldiers’ incentive bonuses, most of which are for their […]
'Lack of Respect': Army National Guard Criticized by Lawmakers for Bungling Enlistment Bonus Payments
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is demanding answers from the Army National Guard on its plans to pay delinquent enlistment bonuses to the thousands of soldiers who are owed. In a letter Tuesday to Gen. Daniel Hokanson, the National Guard’s top officer, Reps. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz.; Mike Waltz, R-Fla.; and Trent Kelly, R-Miss., questioned […]
New Recruiting Programs Put Army, Air Force on Track to Meet Enlistment Goals. Navy Will Fall Short
WASHINGTON — After several difficult years, the Army and Air Force say they are on track to meet their recruiting goals this year, reversing previous shortfalls using a swath of new programs and policy changes. But the Navy, while improving, expects once again to fall short. The mixed results reflect the ongoing challenges for the […]