LEADERSHIP AND POLICY EFFECTS ON ATTRITION DYNAMICS IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE
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Authors
Dempsey, Timothy A.
Subjects
manpower
attrition
retention
reserve
leadership
USMC
Marine Corps
attrition
retention
reserve
leadership
USMC
Marine Corps
Advisors
Hernandez, Alejandro S.
Bacolod, Marigee
Date of Issue
2025-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis examines how leadership affects retention rates in Marine Corps Reserve units by evaluating the relationship between key leaders and the strength and retention within these units. Force Design 2030 highlights that the Marine Corps Reserve must overcome essential challenges to maintain skilled Marines and achieve combat readiness. The plan outlines a strategic shift from recruiting fresh personnel to retaining veterans who handle complex tasks and improve operational readiness. The research utilizes personnel data from 2004 to 2024 and applies Difference-in-Differences regression models to understand how leader tenure influences personnel numbers and attrition rates within broader service-wide changes. Leadership shows a measurable impact on units but demonstrates significant variations in strength and direction throughout different units and periods. Statistical analysis shows few leaders had measurable effects on personnel dynamics, indicating that multiple other variables usually eclipse leadership impact. Future research must include external operational variables like deployment locations and training settings to separate leadership impacts with greater precision. Investigating these aspects will help future studies give detailed recommendations for resource management and retention strategies to reduce attrition rates in the Marine Corps Reserve.
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Thesis
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Distribution Statement
Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.