Deployment Consequences: A Review of the Literature and Integration of Findings into a Model of Retention
Abstract
Deployment activity for the armed services increased during the 1990s and the deployment tempo continues to be high. This makes understanding the consequences of these deployments for manpower and personnel areas such as retention particularly important. This report summarizes research regarding the effects of deployments, and proposes a framework for understanding the effects of deployments on retention using an existing model of organizational turnover. Results suggested that either too few or too many deployments can have a negative effect on retention, and that while number and length of deployments are important, other characteristics of a deployment such as the perceived fairness of decisions can play an even more important role in Soldier and family reactions to deployments. Survey data has also consistently indicated that the amount of time a Soldier is separated from his/her family is one of the top reasons that Soldiers consider leaving the Army. The effect of deployments on other personnel areas such as morale, finances, and readiness, has been equivocal. We argue that it is imperative to develop a model of retention that demonstrates the role of deployments in the decision to reenlist. We suggest a model and justify the proposed links based on the literature.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA442677
Entities
People
- Meredith L. Cracraft
- Michelle M. Wisecarver
- Tonia S. Heffner
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences