Officer Career Development: Surface Warfare Officer Retention

Abstract : The factors that contribute to surface warfare officer in the Navy were investigated. Information was obtained from a sample of 373 stayers and 52 leavers selected from a larger sample of 3,059 surface warfare officers who responded to a survey of officer career development in 1986. An hypothesized model of surface warfare officer retention, based on Steers and Mowday's model of employee turnover (1981), was tested using path analyses. The results of the analyses supported several of the major linkages contained in the model. In line with the model, stated career intent had the strongest influence on officer retention. Additionally, search for alternatives had a direct impact on retention. Level of organizational commitment, along with spousal support and tenure, had a direct influence on career intent. The direct links from spousal support, esteem, assignment acceptability, and benefits to organizational commitment were also supported. Overall, the present study contributes to our understanding of the turnover process within a military setting and provides avenues for future research.