This is an interesting but mostly useless conversation. I know speaking as the unit CO I don't mind you guys batting around ideas and concerns that are being brought up in this thread as long as you keep it all in perspective. I will again, as a member of Command Staff, re-iterate some important aspects of the discussion.
1. Command Staff has approved the unit growth plan that takes us to 2 companies of 3 platoon each. 1 Saturday platoon and 2 Sunday platoons, along with the approved support assets. We WILL NOT grow beyond that without further approval from Command Staff.
2. The Operational plan is for the 3rd Platoons in each company to possibly open some time in February depending on unit leadership and administrative capacity.
Now, that being said lets go over a few things.
1. We are taking our time to ensure that the unit is capable of handling growth. With new people joining means we have to run training classes, and do a lot of S-1 admin work.
2. We currently have enough people in the unit to fill all of our operational billets. Many of them are still working through their training requirements.
3. When we do open the 3rd platoons, and thus open recruitment, it will only stay open as long as we need people. Once we are operationally full again, then we will move to a modified recruitment, whereby we accept only a certain number of people per month to make up for attrition.
There are other units out there that seem to want to expand to a "sky is the limit" model. People can go there, and enjoy truck driving or bomb squads. We do not need unlimited growth, we need dedicated people interested in helping us run the best air assault operations possible.
