Posted by David Anderson from Kelowna BC Canada on December 16, 2020 at 01:54:21:
In Reply to: OFFICER BASHING posted by CSM on December 04, 2021 at 23:34:46:
We have all seen the effects of attrition. At the lower rank levels it is a matter of constant concern but can be absorbed. The higher up you go the more dramtic impact the losses have. As example, in the late 80s, I took command of an artillery battery of about 60 people. I had myself, two captains, three lieutenants, an MWO, two WOs and five sergeants. Two years later, there was myself, two lieutenants and one sergeant. Ten years later, the battery is just starting to emerge from this massive loss of managers and line supervisors. I am sure that others out there have similar stories.
I think that captain and sergeant are the two most useful and effective ranks in the military. It takes the better part of 5-10 years to produce each in the reserves. Nobody would be surprised to figure out you have to recruit and train through the various QLs 20-30 people over that time period to produce 1 sergeant. As we all know, most of these people leave before reaching sergeant and other remain at a lesser rank.
How many officers do you have to recruit and train to have 1 captain at the end? I don't know the answer either. Most units end up recruiting more officers than they have jobs for expecting attrition to naturally cull the herd. Sometimes attrition works for sometimes it works against you. The important difference is those soldiers lining up to be sergeants are generally employed on something practical in the meantime and the officers are often parked in office jobs pushing paper.
It's a paradox without an answer. No one will argue that some officers are needed but how do you only keep the minimum necessary while recruiting and training enough to maintain that minimum?
There is also the issue of those senior officers and NCOs who are content to wear the uniform and collect the pay cheque so long as they aren't required to put much effort into it, but that is another subject.