2003 IMTA Proceedings - International Military Testing Association

Results
Satisfaction with the Military Way of Life
All three surveys asked Service members how satisfied they were with the military way
of life. For the purposes of this paper, the five response categories were collapsed into three
categories: satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and dissatisfied.
From 1999 to 2003, satisfaction with the military way of life increased 18-percentage
points—with the largest increase occurring between 1999 and 2002. In 1999, more Service
members indicated they were satisfied with the military way of life (49%) than indicated they
were dissatisfied (29%). In 2002, the percentage of members that indicated they were satisfied
increased to 61% and the percentage of members that were dissatisfied decreased to 20%.
Similarly, in 2003, the percentage of Service members reporting they were satisfied (67%)
increased, while the percentage of members that were dissatisfied (16%) decreased.
Across the three surveys, a higher proportion of Air Force members indicated they were
satisfied with the military way of life than did members of other Services. The percentage of Air
Force members that were satisfied increased from 1999 (56% vs. 45-49%) to 2002 (68% vs. 54-
61%), and again in 2003 (74% vs. 61-69%). From 1999 to 2003, the percentage of members
who were satisfied increased in all of the Services, with the percentages for Navy members
increasing (from 45% to 61% to 69%) such that Navy members were almost as satisfied as Air
Force members in 2003 (69% vs. 74%).
Satisfaction with the military way of life tended to increase with rank across the three
surveys. In 1999, fewer junior enlisted members (E1-E4) were satisfied than members in other
paygrade groups (36% vs. 54-72%). This finding held true in 2002 (46% vs. 68-85%) and in
2003 (53% vs. 74-87%). Similarly, across the three surveys, senior officers (O4-O6) were the
most satisfied with the military way of life and the percentage reporting satisfied increased
across the three years (72% to 85% to 87%).
Retention Intentions
Three measures of retention intentions were included in each of the three surveys. First,
members were asked to indicate their willingness to stay on active duty. Next, members were
asked if they intended to remain in the military for 20 years, a full career. For the purposes of
this paper, the five response categories for likelihood were collapsed into three categories: likely,
neither likely nor unlikely, and unlikely. Finally, members were asked if their spouse, girlfriend,
or boyfriend favored their remaining in the military. The five response categories for this
question were also collapsed into three categories: favors staying, has no opinion one way or the
other, and favors leaving.
From 1999 to 2003, likelihood to stay on active duty increased 11-percentage points. In
1999, more Service members indicated they were likely to stay on active duty (50%) than said
they were unlikely to stay (36%). In 2002, the percentage of members that indicated they were
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45 th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association
Pensacola, Florida, 3-6 November 2003