Mike
28 April 2000, 16:22
San Diego Union-Tribune
February 16, 1999
Navy Special Force Having Difficulty Keeping Its Fighters
By James W. Crawley, Staff Writer
The Navy's most elite and secretive force, the SEALs, suffered a dramatic drop in re-enlistments last year, forcing units to cut staff and support personnel so commando
teams will be fully manned. The drain may decrease the SEALs' ability to conduct operations in coming years, say people inside and outside the special operations forces. But for now, morale and readiness remain high, top officials said. Many, from enlisted sailors to the commanding admiral, hope the decline can be slowed and stopped by increasing sailors' pay and other measures, including a possible reorganization of the Naval Special Warfare Command, the SEAL headquarters based in Coronado. The loss of qualified service members has become pandemic in the Navy and the rest of the armed forces in recent years. Likewise, recruiting has suffered, further exacerbating the Pentagon's manpower woes. A strong economy has hurt the military's all-volunteer force because service men and women can often get better-paying jobs in the private sector without having to endure lengthy deployments away from home and family. Overall, the Navy's commando forces have a shortfall of about 300 men -- 13 percent. But with only 2,320 authorized SEAL positions, the shortage takes on added significance. The force is 81 officers short, and nearly half of the shortage comes from the ranks of lieutenants and lieutenant commanders, who often serve in key combat positions on SEAL teams and platoons. SEAL stands for sea, air, land.
At the same time, 226 enlisted spots are unfilled -- mostly at the low-ranking petty officer third class and second class levels.
For elite, highly trained and specialized units, such as the SEALs, losing just a few people can have wide-ranging effects. Navy SEALs typically operate in small units -- 16 men to a platoon -- that conduct covert surveillance, unconventional warfare and other missions that are too sensitive
for regular troops or that require highly honed skills or finesse. To deal with the manpower shortage, the Navy has left many headquarters, support and staff positions vacant so that combat strength remains high, officers said. Also, some SEAL reservists have been called back to active duty to fill in. "But in a lot of situations, we're just feeling the pain," said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Alderson, a Navy spokesman. The loss of the commandos comes despite the SEALs' historically high re-enlistment rates -- often 20 to 30 percentage points higher than the Navy average. In past years, Navy special warfare officers have worried that too many officers were leaving SEAL units. However, enlisted retention was considered adequate. Now, top officers say, officer retention has begun to improve. But last year, SEAL retention plummeted in key enlisted ranks. Last year, only 68 percent of the elite force's eligible enlisted sailors signed up for another stint. That retention rate was only 2 percent better than the Navy's overall re-enlistment level.
In fact, the re-enlistment rate for SEALs with more than 10 years of service was lower than the Navy average last year. Only 73 percent of the eligible sailors signed up
for an additional five-year stint, compared with 81 percent Navy-wide. That drop is particularly worrisome for the SEALs, who train and fight in small, self-contained units. "We really need these people," said Master Chief Petty Officer Andrew Tafelski, who is the top SEAL enlisted man. "We can't regrow a 20-year guy in three years . . .
six years." Enlisted SEALs with 10 years' experience form the backbone of the units. Typically, they may lead small units in combat, serve as specialists in intelligence, linguistics and other fields or train new personnel. "It's like losing your seed corn," said retired Adm. Luther Schriefer, who is senior vice president of Business Executives for National Security, a nonpartisan Washington group that monitors the Pentagon. Rear Adm. Tom Richards, who is in charge of naval special warfare, agreed that enlisted retention has dropped. "There is some handwriting on the wall," he said.
Several factors are blamed for the retention woes: The strong economy and a chronic pay gap means highly trained personnel can easily get better-paying jobs in the civilian world, often in law enforcement and security positions. "Morale is high, pay is low," Master Chief Tafelski said. Family separation during overseas deployments, plus the SEALs' extended training periods, has affected re-enlistments. It's a common complaint for most service members. Lack of opportunity to use their combat skills. While SEALs are being called for more missions, some believe they are under-or improperly used. "It's like we're always practicing for the basketball game, but never playing it," Lt. Cmdr. Pat Butler said. Frustration with military downsizing and disfavor with the Clinton administration. "It's very political," complained one SEAL master chief. Several SEALs said Washington has not backed the military and, on occasion, has employed special operations units for humanitarian tasks while several high-risk combat missions have been assigned to less-specialized units, such as the Marines. No matter what the reason, the loss of men and experience is troubling, said those who monitor the U.S. military. "The (noncommissioned officers) run the military, so if that bleeds out then our military is in trouble," said David Hackworth, a highly decorated veteran and now a military commentator. The real impact will be in coming years because the ranks of senior enlisted SEALs will be thin, which in turn affects leadership at the unit level, Hackworth said. "If the U.S. feels it's important to have the capabilities of the SEALs then they need to make sure to retain and recruit them," said military analyst Schriefer. Increasing pay, military-wide, is a top priority for the Pentagon, the White House and many in Congress. The Clinton administration has proposed a 4.4 percent
across-the-board pay raise along with increased incentive bonuses and a return to 50 percent retirement benefits. Increased payments for diving and other hazardous duty also have been proposed, which may help improve retention, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Dan Turlip, special warfare command career counselor. Richards' staff also is examining ideas to reorganize the Navy's special forces, which includes special boat squadrons of coastal patrol boats, high-speed boats and mini-subs. While plans are still under wraps and have not been approved by the Navy or the multiservice Special Operations Command, Richards hopes reorganizing his units will help alleviate some problems that affect retention and manning. Richards is looking for ways to reduce the command structure over deployed units and consolidate support and logistics organizations. The result would shift SEALs from some non-operational positions to combat roles, without reducing the overall number of SEALs, he said. "I'm talking a little revolution here," Richards said.
February 16, 1999
Navy Special Force Having Difficulty Keeping Its Fighters
By James W. Crawley, Staff Writer
The Navy's most elite and secretive force, the SEALs, suffered a dramatic drop in re-enlistments last year, forcing units to cut staff and support personnel so commando
teams will be fully manned. The drain may decrease the SEALs' ability to conduct operations in coming years, say people inside and outside the special operations forces. But for now, morale and readiness remain high, top officials said. Many, from enlisted sailors to the commanding admiral, hope the decline can be slowed and stopped by increasing sailors' pay and other measures, including a possible reorganization of the Naval Special Warfare Command, the SEAL headquarters based in Coronado. The loss of qualified service members has become pandemic in the Navy and the rest of the armed forces in recent years. Likewise, recruiting has suffered, further exacerbating the Pentagon's manpower woes. A strong economy has hurt the military's all-volunteer force because service men and women can often get better-paying jobs in the private sector without having to endure lengthy deployments away from home and family. Overall, the Navy's commando forces have a shortfall of about 300 men -- 13 percent. But with only 2,320 authorized SEAL positions, the shortage takes on added significance. The force is 81 officers short, and nearly half of the shortage comes from the ranks of lieutenants and lieutenant commanders, who often serve in key combat positions on SEAL teams and platoons. SEAL stands for sea, air, land.
At the same time, 226 enlisted spots are unfilled -- mostly at the low-ranking petty officer third class and second class levels.
For elite, highly trained and specialized units, such as the SEALs, losing just a few people can have wide-ranging effects. Navy SEALs typically operate in small units -- 16 men to a platoon -- that conduct covert surveillance, unconventional warfare and other missions that are too sensitive
for regular troops or that require highly honed skills or finesse. To deal with the manpower shortage, the Navy has left many headquarters, support and staff positions vacant so that combat strength remains high, officers said. Also, some SEAL reservists have been called back to active duty to fill in. "But in a lot of situations, we're just feeling the pain," said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Alderson, a Navy spokesman. The loss of the commandos comes despite the SEALs' historically high re-enlistment rates -- often 20 to 30 percentage points higher than the Navy average. In past years, Navy special warfare officers have worried that too many officers were leaving SEAL units. However, enlisted retention was considered adequate. Now, top officers say, officer retention has begun to improve. But last year, SEAL retention plummeted in key enlisted ranks. Last year, only 68 percent of the elite force's eligible enlisted sailors signed up for another stint. That retention rate was only 2 percent better than the Navy's overall re-enlistment level.
In fact, the re-enlistment rate for SEALs with more than 10 years of service was lower than the Navy average last year. Only 73 percent of the eligible sailors signed up
for an additional five-year stint, compared with 81 percent Navy-wide. That drop is particularly worrisome for the SEALs, who train and fight in small, self-contained units. "We really need these people," said Master Chief Petty Officer Andrew Tafelski, who is the top SEAL enlisted man. "We can't regrow a 20-year guy in three years . . .
six years." Enlisted SEALs with 10 years' experience form the backbone of the units. Typically, they may lead small units in combat, serve as specialists in intelligence, linguistics and other fields or train new personnel. "It's like losing your seed corn," said retired Adm. Luther Schriefer, who is senior vice president of Business Executives for National Security, a nonpartisan Washington group that monitors the Pentagon. Rear Adm. Tom Richards, who is in charge of naval special warfare, agreed that enlisted retention has dropped. "There is some handwriting on the wall," he said.
Several factors are blamed for the retention woes: The strong economy and a chronic pay gap means highly trained personnel can easily get better-paying jobs in the civilian world, often in law enforcement and security positions. "Morale is high, pay is low," Master Chief Tafelski said. Family separation during overseas deployments, plus the SEALs' extended training periods, has affected re-enlistments. It's a common complaint for most service members. Lack of opportunity to use their combat skills. While SEALs are being called for more missions, some believe they are under-or improperly used. "It's like we're always practicing for the basketball game, but never playing it," Lt. Cmdr. Pat Butler said. Frustration with military downsizing and disfavor with the Clinton administration. "It's very political," complained one SEAL master chief. Several SEALs said Washington has not backed the military and, on occasion, has employed special operations units for humanitarian tasks while several high-risk combat missions have been assigned to less-specialized units, such as the Marines. No matter what the reason, the loss of men and experience is troubling, said those who monitor the U.S. military. "The (noncommissioned officers) run the military, so if that bleeds out then our military is in trouble," said David Hackworth, a highly decorated veteran and now a military commentator. The real impact will be in coming years because the ranks of senior enlisted SEALs will be thin, which in turn affects leadership at the unit level, Hackworth said. "If the U.S. feels it's important to have the capabilities of the SEALs then they need to make sure to retain and recruit them," said military analyst Schriefer. Increasing pay, military-wide, is a top priority for the Pentagon, the White House and many in Congress. The Clinton administration has proposed a 4.4 percent
across-the-board pay raise along with increased incentive bonuses and a return to 50 percent retirement benefits. Increased payments for diving and other hazardous duty also have been proposed, which may help improve retention, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Dan Turlip, special warfare command career counselor. Richards' staff also is examining ideas to reorganize the Navy's special forces, which includes special boat squadrons of coastal patrol boats, high-speed boats and mini-subs. While plans are still under wraps and have not been approved by the Navy or the multiservice Special Operations Command, Richards hopes reorganizing his units will help alleviate some problems that affect retention and manning. Richards is looking for ways to reduce the command structure over deployed units and consolidate support and logistics organizations. The result would shift SEALs from some non-operational positions to combat roles, without reducing the overall number of SEALs, he said. "I'm talking a little revolution here," Richards said.