Accession Number:

ADA411776

Title:

The Effects of Perstempo on Officer Retention in the US Military

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

RAND CORP SANTA MONICA CA

Personal Author(s):

• Fricker, Ronald D., Jr.

Report Date:

2002-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

88.0

Abstract:

Since the end of the Gulf War, the operational tempo of the military services has increased dramatically. By some accounts, deployments have increased anywhere from 60 percent GAO, 1999 to 300 percent Peters, 1997 between 1986 and 2000 for a force that has 700,000 fewer members and an officer corps that is 31-percent smaller. With recent retention shortfalls, it is often alleged that increased deployments are causing personnel losses. The most commonly cited evidence of this comes from surveys of servicemembers who are queried about their likes and dislikes of military service. While surveys of intentions, and other voiced dissatisfactions with military service, are important tools for identifying areas that require attention, it is just as important to evaluate actual behavior. The relevant question is whether such stated dissatisfaction translates into action so that increased deployments actually result in decreased retention.

Descriptors:

• *DEPLOYMENT
• *OFFICER PERSONNEL
• *PERSONNEL RETENTION
• MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES)
• OPERATIONAL READINESS
• PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
• SHORTAGES

Subject Categories:

• Personnel Management and Labor Relations
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE