Naval aviator retention: predicting retention and identifying related variables

Abstract

The research described in this thesis was directed toward determining the feasibility of using the Navy's HRM Survey to accurately predict aviation retention six to eighteen months in the future. Another objective was to determine if variables which discriminated Careerists from Resignees would provide sufficient understanding of retention behavior to enable Navy management to develop effective action plans aimed at solving aviator retention problems. Discriminant-function equations, in cross-validation, correctly classified 90% of the naval aviator sample into two groups - Careerists and Resignees. Additionally, discriminant-function analysis generated discriminating variables which provided insight into career retention behavior. Attitude measures, command climate, and general satisfaction, were found to be highly correlated with personnel retention.