Medical Service Corps: Junior Officer and Recent Retiree Stay/Leave Decisions

This thesis examines stayleave decisions of Medical Service Corps MSC Officers in pay grades 0-1 through 0-4. Reasons why they choose to stay or leave the Navy and their attitudes toward continued service are identified and explored. Since few studies have been conducted on turnover intent in officers within the Navy Medical Department, previous studies, theories, and influencers on stayleave decisions in Department of Defense officers are examined and compared with actual perceptions of MSC officers obtained through interviews. Thirty active duty and eight recently retired Medical Service Corps junior officers stationed on the East and West coasts were interviewed. Results indicated that active duty MSC officers stay decisions are primarily influenced by the following factors pay and benefits job satisfaction spouse andor family graduate education opportunities and military leadership. The strongest influencers are pay and benefits and job satisfaction. Recently retired MSC officers stated that the following factors mainly influenced their decision to leave the booming economy job availability permanent change of station PCS moves disconnection with leadership the changing military and being retirement eligible. Recommendations for further study are offered to aid recruitment and retention of Medical Service Corps officers.