Military Attrition: Better Data, Coupled With Policy Changes, Could Help the Services Reduce Early Separations
Abstract
In January 1997, GAO reported that each year, around 25,000 enlisted personnel are being separated from the services in their first 6 months, during or shortly after they complete basic training.1 The Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Personnel, asked that GAO similarly analyze historical attrition rates for enlisted personnel who serve at least 6 months but leave military service before completing their first contract terms. Specifically, GAO determined (1) the rate and timing of attrition during enlistees first terms, (2) the extent of the Department of Defense's (DOD) investment in recruiting and training first-term enlistees, (3) reasons for first-term attrition after training, (4) servicemembers perceptions of quality-of-life factors that contribute to attrition, and (5) actions DOD and the services are taking to reduce enlistees attrition. GAO also agreed to provide attrition data for enlistees by educational background, Armed Forces Qualification Test score, age at enlistment, gender, and race/ethnic group (see app. I).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- AD1180499
Entities
People
- Beverly Schladt
- Carol Schuster
- Charles Perdue
- Frank Bowen
- James Driggins
- Julia Kennon
- Mark E. Gebicke
- Nancy Ragsdale
- William Beusse
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office