An analysis of factors affecting the retention plans of junior male U.S. Army officers : evidence from the 1999 DOD survey of active duty personnel

Abstract

This thesis investigates the factors that influence the retention intentions of 680 junior male Army officers who are serving within their initial obligated service. To estimate the models, data for this thesis were drawn from responses to the 1999 DoD Survey of Active Duty Personnel. The survey includes data on retention intentions of service members. Past research has shown that a member's intention is a good predictor of retention behavior. Logistic regression analysis is used to identify demographic, tenure, economic, and cognitive characteristics that significantly affect the intention to stay or to quit the military and to assess their relative importance.