Military Personnel Firstterm Personnel Less Satisfied With Military Life Than Those In Midcareer

Satisfaction with military life and retention intent increase as personnel gain seniority. First-term enlisted personnel were more dissatisfied (41 percent) than satisfied (35 percent) with the overall military way of life. In addition, only 29 percent of first-term enlisted personnel reported that they were likely to stay on active duty, and relatively few (14 percent) reported that they envisioned serving a 20-year career. However, mid-career personnel were more satisfied than dissatisfied with the military way of life. More specifically, 52 percent of mid-career enlisted personnel and 62 percent of mid-career officers were satisfied, while only 23 percent and 20 percent, respectively, were dissatisfied. In addition, both mid-career enlisted personnel and officers reported that they were more likely than unlikely to stay on active duty (62 percent and 63 percent, respectively). And, mid-career enlisted personnel and officers reported that they were more likely than unlikely to serve 20 years (63 percent and 66 percent, respectively).

GAO-02-200 Military Personnel: First-Term Personnel Less Satisfied With Military Life Than Those in Mid-Career

WINNER OF THE 2017 ASPA SECTION ON PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION AND LABOR RELATIONS OUTSTANDING BOOK AWARD! This research and policy book examines the role of women in the military and the overwhelming evidence to date that warranted repealing the combat exclusion policy. It explores the following questions: How can the success of women in the mil

For more than 20 years, the DoD has collected information regarding behavioral and health readiness of active duty military personnel through the Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel (Survey). In 2005, DoD initiated the ¿Dept. of Defense Lifestyle Assessment Program,¿ which incorporates the active-duty health behaviors study and expands the scope to include the National Guard and Reserves, as well as other special studies, the first of which will examine unit-level influences on alcohol and tobacco use. The 2005 Survey has two broad aims for active duty military personnel: (1) to continue the survey of substance use; and (b) to assess progress toward selected ¿Healthy People 2010¿ objectives. Charts and tables.