Effect of Transferability of GI Bill Benefits for Family Members on Army Retention and Career Choice

摘要

This technical report analyzes the effect of proposed transferability of the new GI Bill benefits for family members of soldiers on their retention and career choice. The authors employ cost-effectiveness analysis to compare the increase in costs of the proposal and selective reenlistment bonuses to be paid to the reenlistees with the decreases in recruitment and training costs and conclude that the proposal is cost effective because the Army can save at least $9,400 per soldier. An estimated increase in reenlistment based on a survey of soldiers' intentions to reenlist suggests that the Army can save about $200 million per year.