Effects of Bonuses on Active Component Reenlistment Versus Prior Service Enlistment in the Selected Reserve
Abstract
The reserve components should be fully manned and ready, but at times during 2004 to 2009 the Army National Guard, the Army Reserve, and the Marine Corps Reserve experienced manning shortfalls. The shortfalls occurred despite constant manpower authorizations and can be attributed to an insufficient supply of personnel. Supply in general depends on recruiting and retention, and retention was stable in the Army National Guard and the Marine Corps Reserve, though it did decrease in the Army Reserve. Thus, in the Army National Guard, the Marine Corps Reserve, and to some extent the Army Reserve the manning shortfall came from an inadequate inflow of recruits. The present study began with a focus on the effectiveness of RC enlistment and affiliation bonuses in increasing the enlistment of service members leaving the AC. In our analysis, we assume that AC service members at a reenlistment point consider remaining in the AC, joining the RC, or leaving the military entirely, and that both AC and RC bonuses influence this decision. Framing the analysis in this way broadened the focus of the study from just the effectiveness of RC bonuses to include how AC and RC bonuses interact to affect both AC reenlistment and prior service enlistment in the RC.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA544930
Entities
People
- James R. Hosek
- Trey Miller
Organizations
- RAND Corporation