I was over at the VMI web site tonight, as always I looked at the employment opportunities. Imagine my surprise when I saw this, an advertisement for Military Science Training Non-Commissioned Officers. WTF–the Army can’t find NCOs. Of the ROTC instructors I had at VMI, SFC Okie Sims, and MSG Bigger left a lasting impression. They were professionals. The knew the Army, they had served in Vietnam. MSG Bigger talked to us about the M16 protection stick. SFC Sims was the type of NCO who had a Silver Star and an Article 15 for the same act in Vietnam. So why can’t the Army find the right NCO. I have sadly concluded that the Army is not really interested in ROTC–I go out on limb–if you look at our General Officers in key positions (division, corps, army or higher) the majority are West Point graduates. The WPPA is alive and well, and ROTC and their products are expendable.
A lot of ROTC is covered by Reservists and contractors. ‘Every resource for the war effort.’
When I was in the IRR (undeployable due to medical reasons earned in A-stan), I was volunteered to teach ROTC at whatever college needed a combat veteran on the platform. The response from the 80th Division: “Oh hell no!” They were not concerned about the cadets – they wanted both good stats (number/% deployable) and at that time they wanted folks to replace the cowards who refused deployment to Iraq in 2005.-6.
I’ve heard tale that non-union contractors won’t be acceptable to DoD in the coming sequestration, so you may not find NCO simulacrums, but the USAR may have a few in a year or so.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get that far. It was over in less than 24 hours. We can only hope:
http://manteoandwanchese.blogspot.com/2012/08/just-not-meant-to-be.html