How Marine Recruiter Quality and Other Factors Affect Enlistee Quality

Abstract

Fostering a high-quality force in the USMC is essential for readiness, efficiency, and cost-minimization. This study seeks to inform the USMC on optimal strategies to reduce attrition and elicit a high-quality force by identifying factors contributing to recruiting higher-quality enlistees. We will use individual-enlistee-level, recruiter-level, and station (RSS)-level aggregated analyses. We first must determine what constitutes quality among enlistees. Our main enlistee-quality measure will be attrition at boot camp and at other intervals in the 1st term. These provide measures of the quality of the match between the enlistee and the Marines. We will also examine more conventional measures of quality (AFQT, education, waivers, PFT, FITREPS). Specifically, our research questions will determine: 1. How does the quality of the recruiter (or recruiters in a station) affect various measures of the quality of the enlistee, such as 1st term attrition? 2. How do other factors affect the quality of enlistees? 3. How does the diversity of recruiters in a recruiting station in minority areas affect the success of the station in attracting high-quality minority recruits? 4. What policy changes should be made to the screening and assignment of canvassing recruiters that lead to higher-quality enlistees, lower 1stterm attrition, and a higher-quality force?