Why do military members move so often?

[if6wasnin9]

Military troops are moved around to different jobs every two years or so and makes no sense. And they are moved into jobs that are totally different. Does it have to do with corruption and power?
I worked for USAF a few years as a citizen and the military members I worked with were insecure and nasty people.

 

[Crossbreed]

Why do military members move so often?

Cross-training?
Acclimatization?

 

[VictorR]

US and Canadian militaries both operate on a move up or get out system.

Basically, unlike most other jobs, service members are required to get promoted with a certain period of time or leave the service.

This encourages job hopping, as it's often easier to get a promotion that way.

Changing postings also gives one a wider breadth of experience, and a wider network.

Additionally, operational needs may result in someone being assigned to a specific location.

 

[Mary Terry]

From the USA perspective, the military is posted to whatever "hot spot" the powers-that-be declare are in need troops or servicemen. I know a guy in the Air National Guard who was posted to Okinawa two years ago and then transferred to Arkansas a year ago. He dragged his family (wife and 4 small kids) to Okinawa to live in the barracks, and his wife had their 5th child while there. Now they're all back here. His military job has something to do with medical issues such as medic evacuations, not sure really what he does. The US appears to be amassing troops and Navy ships in the Caribbean and around Venezuela to blow up little boats for the "war on drugs". Tomorrow, they may be sent to some other designated hot spot, so to speak.

 

[Judge]

The short answer? You as an individual soldier or sailor go where you are needed.

I was born and raised in such an environment in the 50s and 60s. With a tacit understanding (even as a child) that the US Government always came first over the needs of our family. In my father's case as a career naval officer and Annapolis graduate he was sent to wherever he was needed on a moment's notice.

Often to places we either didn't know about, or weren't supposed to talk about. Leaving me far closer to my mother, as my father (as a father) amounted to a "absentee parent".

Though at one point early in my life the whole family had to up and leave to live on the island of Guam. Saying "Aloha" to living in the states. It became a hardship simply because the tropics weren't conducive to our allergies. We as a family also on occasion had "to serve" in some pretty strange ways. Often attending social occasions as kids with people we didn't know, simply in the best interest of my father's career. It was a strange life.

I still recall those dark days in October 1962 when my parents were stressing over the Cuban Missile Crisis. With my mother crying as my father tried to explain what a nuclear blast was to a young child- me. A couple days later my father "disappeared" as he often did, without knowing where or why, or when he was coming back. When we lived perilously close to a known nuclear target.

 

[mw2530]

My brother is in the military and does move every 3 years or so do another base. I'm not sure what all the reasons are for this approach. Definitely makes it difficult if you have a family and kids. It really is a lifestyle that needs to be embraced by the whole family to be successful.

 

[Judge]

It really is a lifestyle that needs to be embraced by the whole family to be successful.

Absolutely. It's a critical realization for anyone seeking to marry a spouse who is in the military. That it inherently involves any number of personal sacrifices not only on spouses, but also their children.

 

[TBRS1]

Part of the deal when one becomes a soldier is the agreement to give up the autonomy of a citizen, and to willingly allow somebody else to make one's life decisions for the period of enlistment.

 

[Judge]

Part of the deal when one becomes a soldier is the agreement to give up the autonomy of a citizen, and to willingly allow somebody else to make one's life decisions for the period of enlistment.

Yes! A classic example of indentured servitude that is profoundly live and well in any number of countries.

Your life is no longer your own in such a contract. Nor your family to a degree, having had to perform certain duties as a child that gave me a certain amount of stress that frankly I don't think children should have to bear.

 

[TBRS1]

Yes! A classic example of indentured servitude that is profoundly live and well in any number of countries.

The non military version of indentured servitude is called "student loans."

 

[Judge]

The non military version of indentured servitude is called "student loans."

Around 1977 I still recall befriending a girl in college who was quite flippant about intentionally defaulting on her student loans. I still sometimes wonder how that turned out for her.

 

[TBRS1]

Around 1977 I still recall befriending a girl in college who was quite flippant about intentionally defaulting on her student loans. I still sometimes wonder how that turned out for her.

Probably not well. In the U.S. it is impossible to discharge a student loan without paying it off.

Can't discharge it by declaring bankruptcy, and anything else leaves the cosigner holding the bag.

Couple thousand years ago, in, say Rome, selling oneself or child into slavery was common. It was a career choice.

One's new owner would pay educational expenses - maybe to the mason guild for training. As long as the new "slave" could make repayment on the agreed schedule, they were allowed full autonomy.

If the payments couldn't be made - well, one's owner could decide what happened next.

 

[Judge]

Probably not well. In the U.S. it is impossible to discharge a student loan without paying it off.

Can't discharge it by declaring bankruptcy, and anything else leaves the cosigner holding the bag.

Couple thousand years ago, in, say Rome, selling oneself or child into slavery was common. It was a career choice.

One's new owner would pay educational expenses - maybe to the mason guild for training. As long as the new "slave" could make repayment on the agreed schedule, they were allowed full autonomy.

If the payments couldn't be made - well, one's owner could decide what happened next.

I just recall it mostly because it seemed so alien to my own sensibilities. I can't imagine intentionally defaulting on a loan- period.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

US and Canadian militaries both operate on a move up or get out system.

Basically, unlike most other jobs, service members are required to get promoted with a certain period of time or leave the service.

This encourages job hopping, as it's often easier to get a promotion that way.

Changing postings also gives one a wider breadth of experience, and a wider network.

Additionally, operational needs may result in someone being assigned to a specific location.

Brother was in canadian air force for years, never asked for promotion did not get moved much. given rank of corporal after graduating and working and signed up. When they wanted him to transfer to Alberta he resigned
joined reserves. Move up or get out is not part of Canadian system.

 

[oregano]

I was once told that the military moved people around so often so that troops wouldn't "fraternize" with the civilian locals and thus might not be willing to fight against any populace the soldiers had grown too emotionally detached to. Throughout history, military service has been a deal where the soldier gives up his individual autonomy to serve the top brass of the army. In fact, many countries require mandatory military service of all citizens so as to promote national cohesion and the experience of submitting to a cause larger than oneself.

 

[Judge]

I was once told that the military moved people around so often so that troops wouldn't "fraternize" with the civilian locals and thus might not be willing to fight against any populace the soldiers had grown too emotionally detached to.

Sounds a bit silly given how much "liberty" means to each and every recruit or conscript.

I spent years growing up in a Navy Family living in such places...and never seeing anyone in uniform reticent to frequent what the civilians had to offer them. Though on occasion I also witnessed signs saying, "Dogs and sailors keep off the grass".

A few locales could be that hostile, but most welcomed anyone in uniform. Though the Vietnam years put a spin on it all, and not in a nice way.

I still recall a wonderful buffet ("Sir Georges") in San Clemente, California that went out of business given the voracious appetites of so many hungry US Marines coming from Santa Ana/Tustin and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Oops.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Brother has been places, even tourist's will never see like he told me -40 to plus 40 Celcius in a matter of days. Close to north pole to middle east.

 

[VictorR]

Brother was in canadian air force for years, never asked for promotion did not get moved much. given rank of corporal after graduating and working and signed up. When they wanted him to transfer to Alberta he resigned
joined reserves. Move up or get out is not part of Canadian system.

Thank you for the correction, indeed it is US specific.

I took a look at current CAF practice and interesting one can voluntarily opt out of promotion consideration altogether.

CAF Introduces New Process for Regular Force Personnel to Opt Out of Promotion Consideration - Canadian Military Family Magazine

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Yes my brother retired last year 60 year old corporal. went from regular force to reserves did not want to move to Alberta. He likes his home base, paid off house no relationship or family, just his brothers and sister. He also told me passing the physical was too difficult as he got older.

 

[Crossbreed]

...one can voluntarily opt out of promotion consideration altogether.

Why would someone want to opt out of eventual promotion...?