By Staff Sgt. W. Wayne Marlow
2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – The 2nd Brigade Combat Team Retention Office is closing in on the brigade's 1,000th re-enlistment of its deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Master Sgt. Andrew Staats of Ravenswood, W. Va., the 2nd BCT career counselor, said the milestone re-enlistment should come within the next two weeks. Staats said a love of country and family has spurred most of those who re-enlisted.

"A lot of it is, they've got home in their vision as we get closer to redeployment," he said. "They have a family, obligation, children, bills to pay. But the majority of it goes back to patriotism, goes back to the guy on your right and left. They want to be a part of the team."

Many Soldiers choose the stabilization incentive, which keeps the Soldier at their home station.

"The majority of our re-enlistments are to stay at Fort Carson," Staats said. "It's one of the most sought posts in the Army and our Soldiers know that."

Money can also factor in. Brigade Soldiers who re-enlist have received an average bonus of $8,500, according to Staats.

"Some bonuses pay up to $40,000, and we've had some awful close to that," he said. "The bonuses are real good, the best I've seen them in a long time."

Staats also credits the brigade leadership for its role in the re-enlistment process.

"I couldn't ask for a better chain of command when it comes to retention," he said.

All in all, it's added up to a successful deployment for the re-enlistment team.

"There are always challenges in retention," he said, "but nothing that we haven't overcome."

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