Why Service Members Leave the Military. Review of the Literature and Analysis

摘要

This report investigates the factors associated with service members' decisions to remain in or leave the military. Results are presented from a literature review and analysis of current data provided by the services on reenlistment and first-term attrition. Retention of those who have skills and experience is a major goal of the military. The services compete with each other and with the civilian sector. Both the military and the potential service member have a package of positive and negative values. The services offer pay and security but also have difficult and sometimes dangerous jobs. The prospective military member offers his or her skills for the maximum value. Lump sum bonuses appear to increase first-term reenlistment. Lump sum rather than installment bonuses are more effective. Pay is an important factor of second-term and subsequent reenlistment. Promotions have a powerful effect on reenlistment while retirement benefits become the incentive in later terms of service. Although the service member complains about relocation, location of assignment and separation from family, these factors appear to only modestly affect reenlistment. Quality-of-life factors appear to have little effect on the first term but increase markedly in importance thereafter. The higher the test score and education level the lower the probability that first-term reenlistment will occur. It is presumed that a better education and stronger aptitudes are more competitive in the civilian labor force. In second term and subsequent reenlistments these factors have little effect.