Effect of increased operational tempo (post 9/11) on the retention rate of hospital corpsmen

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the effect of increased operational tempo on the retention behavior of Navy Hospital Corpsmen in pay grades E1-E6. Two data files were obtained from the Defense Manpower Data Center, one for first term personnel on active duty on September 1, 1998 who were eligible to reenlist/separate prior to September 11, 2001 and another for those on active duty on September 11, 2001 who were eligible to reenlist/separate prior to March 2004. The two groups differed significantly in demographics and military background characteristics. A logistic regression model incorporating individual and organizational factors affecting retention was estimated for each group. Model results indicate that personnel who have been deployed regardless of whether they were assigned to sea or shore type duty and regardless of the frequency of deployments are more likely to remain on active duty than those assigned to shore type duty and who have not deployed. Additionally, willingness to serve appears to intensify during periods of conflict. Women were significantly more likely to reenlist than men in 2001; this was not the case in 1998. The effects of occupational specialty also differed between the two periods.