Exploratory Development Research of U.S. Navy Marine Corps Personnel, Phase 1. Factors Affecting Attrition

Abstract : Research was conducted into the factors that influence early attrition of first term Navy/Marine Corps enlistees by administering questionnaires to 1105 first term enlisted men and supervisors. The sample included both attriters and non-attriters at a variety of units and locations. The survey instrument and subsequent analysis focussed on a number of specific issues, including differences in attrition rates between recruits and men in operational units, comparison of pre-service and service-connected factors associated with attrition, and comparison of attriter and supervisor views on attrition. A stepwise multiple regression feature was used to determine the relative influence of each variable and the cumulative influence of several variables.