The Impact of Demographics and Military Factors Affecting Retention Rates of Female and Male Officers in the Surface Warfare and Restricted Line Communities
Abstract
This study analyzes factors that affect the retention of male and female officers, with specific emphasis on the surface warfare and restricted line communities. Specifically, the research examines whether family influence, dependent status, accession source, and undergraduate major are differentially related to retention by gender and community. The study evaluates officers from date of commissioning to the 10-year point in an effort to derive factors related to retention after reaching a major career milestone. A logistic regression model is used as the analytic strategy for the study. Descriptive statistics on independent and dependent variables are run, as appropriate, to show retention rates and outcomes from six cohorts while controlling for missing data, missing cases, and personnel who died prior to the 10-year point. The data set used in this study included officers who were commissioned in the military between 1988 and 1993. Only the Surface Warfare (nuclear and conventional), and Restricted Line (cryptology, intelligence, oceanography, and public affairs) officer communities were examined. The original data set of 84 variables and 9,867 cases was condensed to 4 categories of variables (i.e., demographics factors, military factors, gender and retention), comprising 10 major groups (i.e., age, ethnicity, education major, family status (married/children), commissioning source, prior enlisted, Community, Community Change (SWO lateral to RL), gender, and 10-year retention, yes or no), yielding 24 variables and 5,411 cases. The findings of this study will show whether the retention of female and male officers is related to the same predictors. It should provide data to policy makers and Navy personnel to better predict, control, and maintain retention rates.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA435606
Entities
People
- Cherie R. Taylor
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School