A Review of the Literature on Attrition from the Military Services: Risk Factors for Attrition and Strategies to Reduce Attrition
Abstract
Attrition is the failure of an enlisted service member to be retained in service within the first term of enlistment. This paper emphasizes health/fitness-related aspects of attrition but also covers demographic and psychosocial factors. Overall 3-year military attrition steadily rose from 26% in 1985 to 31% in 1995. Demographic and psychosocial risk factors for attrition include lower educational attainment, female gender, White ethnicity, lower Armed Forces Qualification Test scores, lower moral character (less conformance to laws, rules and regulations), moral waivers, pre-service job instability, and less time in the Delayed Entry Program. The age-attrition relationship appears to be bimodal with higher attrition when youngest, decreasing in 19-23 year olds, and rising again after that. Attrition for mental health reasons is associated with pre-service physical/sexual abuse, previous mental health counseling, previous treatment with medication, previous psychiatric hospitalization, low motivation, pessimism toward training, depression, lack of self-reliance, and referral to a mental health facility. Attrition is also higher among those waivered for hearing problems, skin disorders, back disorders, and prior knee injuries. Other health-related risk factors include pre-service injury, injuries during basic training, a history of prior cigarette smoking, low physical activity prior to service, greater body weight, higher body mass index and lower physical fitness. Strategies to reduce attrition include prescreening by biographical questionnaires, compensatory screening, individual behavioral health counseling, and realistic job previews. Senior leadership initiatives have a powerful effect on attrition. Attrition also appears to be reduced by increasing physical fitness prior to basic training, the Physical Training and Rehabilitation Program, and the Pre-Initial Entry Training Program (for National Guard).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA427744
Entities
People
- Bruce H. Jones
- Eugene Piskator
- Joseph J Knapik
- Keith Hauret
- Salima Darakjy
Organizations
- United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine