Retraining Program for Air Force Enlisted Personnel: An Evaluation
Abstract
The impact of changing occupational specialties on the performance, adjustment, and job and career progress of retrained enlisted personnel was evaluated. Approximately 40,000 enlistees were identified who had retrained from one Air Force Specialty (AFS) to another between 1973 and 1977. Comparisons were made between retrainees and non-retrained airmen in service during the same time period. Criterion measures were obtained from historical personnel data files from a field survey of retrainees and their supervisors. The major findings were as follows. In formal training programs for their new AFS, the performance of retrainees was comparable or superior to non-retrained airmen with equivalent aptitudes. Supervisors judged the skills, abilities, and performance of retrainees on the job to be comparable to non-retrained personnel. Retrainees' job satisfaction, morale, motivation, and interpersonal relations indicated that adjustment to the job change was satisfactory. Measures of time required to upgrade skill levels indicated that, compared to the average for Air Force members, retrainees progressed at the same or a faster pace. However, promotion indices revealed that opportunity for military grade advancement was somewhat less for retrainess. Retention rates were comparable for retrainees and non- retrainees in their second and subsequent enlistment terms. Comparisons between volunteer and selective (non-volunteer) retrainees indicated that selectees performed at slightly lower levels and had poorer job attitudes. The findings are viewed collectively as demonstrating that retraining airmen to balance manning requirements in AFS is a sound Air Force management practice.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA135927
Entities
People
- Mary J. Skinner
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory