The Career Officer Attrition Dilemma: An Underlying Cause
Abstract
Junior and mid-grade officer attrition is a serious problem for the Services. They are leaving active duty because they are frustrated with the system. This system encompasses everything from pay, operational tempo, housing, and the perceived quality and credibility of their leaders. Although studies have been completed in these areas, most attribute career officer attrition to substandard tangible benefits such as low pay, poor housing, or too much time spent away from home. The author believes that these are not the root problem. There is another, underlying cause to career officer attrition. The military, like all organizations, is made up of individuals from across the existing generational cohorts. There is evidence to suggest that multiple generations in the workforce cause severe friction and frustration among the personnel. This individual frustration can be severe enough to cause heavier than normal attrition. In this paper, the author will not only tie generational conflict to attrition, but, will also tie this conflict to senior leaders' loss of credibility with their subordinates. If the Services are to minimize officer attrition, they must first begin to understand the impact of the multigenerational workforce on both the organization and the individuals within the organization.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA404354
Entities
People
- Chris A. Lemson
Organizations
- United States Army War College