Development and Evaluation of a Video Designed to Enhance Officer Career Continuance
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate an intervention designed to improve U.S. Army company grade officer career continuance. This intervention was a video featuring interviews with former officers to present their perspective on what aspects of the Army they miss in civilian life. We conducted focus groups with 155 current company grade officers to evaluate the ability of the video to influence career decisions and intentions toward staying in the Army. Between 15-29% of participants agreed with various post-viewing survey questions about the video changing different attitudes they had about the Army (e.g., appreciate aspects of being an officer that were taken for granted, more convinced they made the right choice by joining the Army), and over 45% said that the video helped clarify for them the unique benefits of being an officer. There was some degree of consensus from different sources that if the video was shown to officers who were at a decision point, if the showing of the video was accompanied by counseling by one's commander, and if the video was also shown to the spouse as a stimulus of much-needed conversation, that it could prove to be well worthwhile and possibly advantageous in retaining company grade officers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA530324
Entities
People
- Alexander Alonso
- Fred A. Mael
- Jeff W. Johnson
- Nehama Babin