An exploratory study of why soldiers in a National Guard battalion did not reenlist after deployment to Iraq.

摘要

An exploratory, qualitative interview study of former soldiers in an Army National Guard unit which deployed to Iraq. With the unprecedented use of the Army National Guard in the Global War on Terror, including Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), and Noble Eagle (Domestic Security), there are concerns that the Army National Guard may be overused. Retention of soldiers in the Army National Guard is critical due to the dual mission of the National Guard: a reserve force for the active duty component of the military, and an emergency relief force for domestic emergencies in the United States. The study consisted of interviews with 16 former soldiers of an Army National Guard unit to determine the perceived factors in the decision for each soldier not to reenlist in the Army National Guard. Among the factors listed were poor leadership, family issues, training issues, and the use of alcohol in Iraq. The Army National Guard, through training and improved pre-mobilization screening, can act and potentially retain more soldiers, thus increasing the effectiveness of the Army National Guard as a military organization.