Operations Tempo and Turnover Intentions: An Exploratory Study of the Air Force's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Career Field and Development of the Air Force Civil Engineer Retention Questionnaire

Abstract

From a managerial perspective, the attraction and retention of high-quality employees is more important today than ever before (Holtom, Mitchell, Lee, & Eberly, 2008). This continuing growth of importance with regards to retention has validated the efforts of many studies within the context of turnover to better understand the relationship between these behaviors. Employers want to know what the reasons are for employee turnover. However, more importantly is that once behaviors are identified the employers are then equipped with a better understanding of how this relationship can be controlled. This relationship also has significant importance within the military structure because of its difference when compared to other firms and organizations. As military operations continue to develop and requirements continue to grow, it is critical to maintain continuity through retention of experienced, high-quality members. The United States military relies solely on training and developing its young members to grow into the senior leaders of its organization; it does not recruit senior executives from outside the organization to function as the senior leaders. The uniqueness of this structure within the United States military expresses in itself the importance of retention and controlling turnover among its members. As a result to this form of operation, Congress, the Department of Defense, and military commanders are concerned by the increased rates of turnover (Huffman, Adler, Dolan, & Castro, 2005). The purpose of this study intends to address this concern.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA501268

Entities

People

  • Joseph A. Tortella

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter IED
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Civil Engineering
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Engineers
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Recreation
  • Surveys
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Military History
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.
  • Theoretical Analysis.