The Effects of Diversity Among Peers and Role Models on U.S. Navy Retention
Abstract
Improving diversity and inclusion is a priority for the U.S. Navy. We examine whether having more leaders and peers from minority groups has any impact on minority and non-minority enlisted and officer retention on different U.S. Navy platforms. We use longitudinal data on first-term enlisted sailors and naval officers from the Defense Manpower Data Center to estimate role model and peer causal effects on first term reenlistment and retention on different size naval platforms. The results suggest that an increase in same-minority peers, immediate supervisors, and senior leadership on-board medium ships and submarines has statistically significant positive effects mainly on black first-term sailors. Moreover, our analysis suggests that an increase in same-minority peers has a statistically significant effect on first-term Hispanic officers and an increase in same-minority officer senior leadership has a statistically significant effect on first-term non-Hispanic and black officers, respectively. Our findings provide insights to support the U.S. Navys efforts to improve inclusion and diversity while maximizing talent within the Navy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1114222
Entities
People
- Cesar Serna
- Jesse M. Hernandez Rodriguez
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School