Junior Surface Warfare Officer retention

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to identify factors that lead to resignation of Junior Surface Warfare Officers (SWO) and to develop an hedonic model of junior SWO turnover. The first source of data was a survey of active- duty, junior SWOs currently serving aboard ships. The second source of data was a survey of 0-3 SWOs who are currently drilling in the Naval Reserves. Results of the two surveys were compared to identify differing levels of satisfaction with the active-duty Navy. The reservists also compared their satisfaction between the active-duty Navy and their current civilian employment Civilian salary levels were obtained from the reservists and their spouses to determine the pay differential between the Navy and civilian jobs for former junior SWOs. A regression model found three factors to have significant power in explaining civilian pay: years since leaving active duty, employment status, and comparative work stress between civilian employment and the active-duty Navy. SWOs with full-time employment who experienced the greatest reductions in pay also experienced the greatest reduction in work Stress. Junior SWOs experienced, on average, a 20 percent pay cut after leaving active duty. Pay returned to its pre-departure level in 2 to three years