TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01 - TRADOC - U.S. Army

TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01Altering the PriceThe second path within the buy option is to alterthe price of Army service. Altering the price ofenlistment is much easier than changing the productas most of these actions are within the purview ofArmy policies. Altering the price actions fall into twomajor categories, monetary or non-monetary.Inducing individuals to serve by providing amonetary incentive has been one of the primary leversthe Army has used since its inception over 200 yearsago. While providing monetary incentives willcontinue for the near future, the cost of relying tooheavily on this can become prohibitive. The Army offers monetary incentives in either current(enlistment bonus) or future dollars (Army College Fund). The Army must continue to find waysto defer costs into future dollar programs, and, more importantly, seek incentives that pay (fullyor partially) for themselves. Current initiatives such as Army Advantage Fund and the IntegratedCareer Plan move in that direction. An enhanced or improved Thrift Savings Plan coupled withbonuses or tax advantages shows promise as well.Non-monetary categories of incentives influence individuals to fill the needs of the Army.Examples of these include; time of service, MOS selection, and duty location. As the populationevolves, perception of what individuals believe to be important (the price they are willing to pay)will also change, thus the Army must establish a process that balances the needs of the Servicewith the needs of individuals. One significant change that the Army is in the process ofimplementing is ARFORGEN. ARFORGEN can increase certainty in rotations and deploymentsthat may serve as incentives to enlist or reenlist.Increasingly, individuals will continue to demand more choice and flexibility in their careeroptions. An example might be the ability for individuals to customize their enlistment package.While the Army must meet the needs of the service, sound personnel management practices willinclude some degree of individual choice and interaction.The Build OptionFor that sector of the population that does not initially meet the Army’s expectation, yet hasthe desire to serve, the Army will need to implement processes that shape these candidates intofully qualified Soldiers. Although this has been the case in the past, future populationdemographics will drive the Army to develop a more comprehensive program. Obviously, aneffective screening program will reduce this requirement, but, if the pool of suitable candidatesshrinks, the Army must adjust.The Screening ProcessThe Army currently screens applicants prior to enlistment. As per AR 601-210 Armyscreening vehicles either screen-in applicants with latent potential or, more commonly, screen-154