Military Personnel: Perceptions of Retention-Critical Personnel Are Similar to Those of Other Enlisted Personnel

Abstract

During the early and mid-1990s, when the military reduced personnel levels, retention was not a primary concern. However, DOD and Congress have long recognized that some servicemembers, particularly those in certain technical areas, can be difficult to retain. In 1998, DOD raised concerns about retention overall and about the quality and readiness of its forces. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee in September 1998, the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff testified that retention rates had declined force-wide and within specific critical occupations. In response to these concerns, Congress increased military pay across-the-board and repealed legislation that lowered retirement benefits for some military personnel. In the last quarter of fiscal year 2000, the services reported they were generally successful in retaining more personnel at the aggregate level but were still concerned about readiness in selected critical skill areas.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA391746

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Air Force
  • Air Traffic Controllers
  • Business Administration
  • Combat Operations
  • Congress
  • Electronic Equipment
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Employment
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Health Care
  • Mechanical Equipment
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • Navigation
  • Personnel Management
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Naval Personnel Management