The Role of Social Support in First-Term Sailors' Attrition from Recruit Training
Abstract
Historically, the Navy enlists about 35,000 to 50,000 new recruits each year; and between 2002 and 2005 experienced first term attrition rates of about 25-30%. The First Watch project was designed to track cohorts of Navy recruits through their first term to determine the "root causes" of first term attrition . The present study examined the influence of social support and social undermining on attrition in general, and during Navy recruit training (RTC), in particular. The professional literature showed a complicated, but definite, association between social support and organizational attrition. Examination of First Watch data on social support in RTC showed significant positive associations between social support from family and the Recruit Division Commanders (RDC) and graduation from RTC, but negative associations were found between RTC graduation and support from friends and fellow recruits. Surprisingly, both RTC graduates and attrites reported social undermining from fellow recruits, but perceived social undermining from RDCs, family, friends, and fellow recruits were significantly predictive of attrition in RTC.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA480798
Entities
People
- David R. Segal
- Jacqueline A. Mottern
- Jeffrey W. Lucas
- Mady W. Segal
- Michael A. White
- Rorie N. Harris
- Yuko Whitestone
Organizations
- Navy Personnel Research, Studies, and Technology