Reacquisition of Skills by Combat Engineers Mobilized from the Individual Ready Reserve
Abstract
For this report, skill reacquisition data were collected during a mobilization training exercise on 76 individual ready reserve (IRR) soldiers (combat engineers) who had been separated from active duty for periods ranging up to 10 years. Military occupational knowledge was measured before and after a 5-day rapid train-up and hands-on performance for 18 MOS tasks was recorded. Increases in task knowledge were strongly related to prior active duty status (full tour vs. initial entry training only) and Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) scores (above vs. below the 50th percentile). Time since separation from active duty did not have a systematic effect. Although these findings cannot be generalized beyond the procedural-type skills examined, the results are evidence for a need to reconsider the current IRR mobilization guideline based solely on separation time. These findings suggest that active duty status, AFQT scores, and a separation window as long as 36 months can serve as determinants of potential for rapid reacquisition of critical skills during a mobilization. Job knowledge, Reserve, Skill decay, Retraining, Mobilization, Skill reacquisition, Skill retention, IRR, Skill acquisition, AFQT, Training.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA286244
Entities
People
- Beatrice J. Farr
- Mark A. Sabol
- Richard P. Kern
- Robert A. Wisher
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences