Effects of the U.S. Navy bilet assignment process on Line Officer's career intentions.

Abstract

This research analyzes the responses of 926 Naval Officers to the 1980 Unrestricted Line Officer Feedback Survey in the context of military and civilian career theory. Results indicate that the large majority of officers do not change their career intent as a result of a particular reassignment and the detailing process associated with it. Of those who do make changes in their career intention, approximately one-half are favorable and one-half are unfavorable with respect to continuation in the service. Of those who do not make career intent changes, quite a few (23 percent) are in unfavorable retention categories. Accordingly, detailing has the potential for positively influencing retention decisions at any change of assignment. Results show that detailing should be sensitive to personal desires of the individual, and his/her perceived involvement in the detailing decision. Career intention changes seem to be differentially related to the direction of movement between sea and shore, and to the officer's warfare community.