The Current Status of Enlisted Attrition in the U.S. Navy and in the U.S. Marine Corps and the Search for Remedies.

摘要

Enlisted attrition has recently emerged as a significant manpower problem confronting the All-volunteer Force. The aim of this project was to refine current understanding of attrition phenomenon and to develop recommendations for a program of policy-relevant research in the area. To meet these objectives, (1) a review was conducted of available military manpower data on attrition, (2) relevant civilian data on occupational/interfirm mobility and educational dropout rates was examined and (3) a critical analysis of ongoing and planned research by military laboratories and centers was undertaken. Preliminary findings of these efforts were fed back to relevant Navy and Marine decision-makers to obtain their comments and inputs. As a result of this work, a series of research recommendations were offered. Recommendations focused on: (1) the need to identify organizational policies and conditions that lead to attrition; (2) the need to examine the personal and organizational consequences (i.e. cost/benefits) of attrition and (3) the need to identify mechanisms to more effectively manage attrition. (Author)