RETENTION IN THE ADF CAN GENERATIONAL THEORY HELP?

摘要

I hypothesise in this paper that an understanding of generational theory will assist ADF to address retention. While the ADF will naturally lose people as they ascend through the ranks, it must aim to keep those it needs through good leadership founded on keeping people motivated and satisfied with their work. I examined reasons why people leave the ADF to see if this could be matched to generational theory and help understand why people leave, so that mitigations can be put in place. Research shows that there is a degree of predictability on how people age and stage through life such that leaders and Career Managers might better guide Defence members through their time in the Services in order that the people the ADF wish to retain, stay longer.