2003 IMTA Proceedings - International Military Testing Association

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likely to stay increased to 58%. Meanwhile, the percentage of members that were unlikely to
stay decreased to 26%. In 2003, the percentage of Service members that were likely to stay
(61%) increased from the previous year. However, the percentage of members that were
unlikely to stay (27%) remained roughly the same.
Across the three surveys, fewer Marine Corps members indicated they were likely to stay
on active duty. However, percentages for Marine Corps members indicating that they were
likely to stay did increase from 1999 (42% vs. 48-56%) to 2002 (46% vs. 58-63%), and again in
2003 (53% vs. 59-65%). More Air Force members indicated they were likely to stay than
members of other Services across the three surveys, but this difference was significant only in
1999 (56% vs. 42-50%).
In each of the three surveys, fewer junior enlisted members responded that they were
likely to stay on active duty than other paygrade groups. Although fewer junior enlisted
members indicated they were likely to stay, percentages did increase from 1999 (32% vs. 53-
72%) to 2002 (41% vs. 67-78%), and again in 2003 (46% vs. 63-80%). In 1999, more senior
officers were likely to stay on active duty than members of other paygrade groups (72% vs. 32-
66%). Likewise, more senior officers were likely to stay than other paygrade groups in 2002
(78% vs. 41-69%) and 2003 (80% vs. 46-72%), with the exception of warrant officers (W1-W5)
(73% and 79%, respectively).
From 1999 to 2003, likelihood to stay for 20 years increased 10-percentage points. In
1999, more Service members indicated they were likely to stay on active duty for at least 20
years (51%) than said they were unlikely to stay (36%). In 2002, the percentage of members that
indicated they were likely to stay for 20 years increased to 59% and the percentage of members
that were unlikely to stay decreased to 28%. In 2003, the percentage of Service members that
were likely to stay for 20 years (61%) increased and the percentage of members that were
unlikely to stay (28%) remained constant.
Across the three surveys, a lower proportion of Marine Corps members indicated they
were likely to remain in the military for at least 20 years. However, the percentage of Marine
Corps members responding that they were likely to stay for 20 years did increase from 1999
(43% vs. 49-58%) to 2002 (49% vs. 59-65%), and again in 2003 (52% vs. 59-66%). More Air
Force members indicated they were likely to stay in the military for 20 years than members of
other Services across the three surveys, but this difference was significant only in 1999 (58% vs.
43-51%).
Fewer junior enlisted members responded that they were likely to stay for at least 20
years than other paygrade groups across the three surveys. Although fewer junior enlisted
indicated they were likely to stay for 20 years, percentages did increase from 1999 (26% vs. 51-
87%) to 2002 (37% vs. 64-92%), and again in 2003 (40% vs. 60-91%). In 1999, more senior
officers (87%) were likely to stay for 20 years than members of other paygrade groups (26-83%).
Furthermore, more senior officers were likely to stay for 20 years than other paygrade groups in
2002 (92% vs. 37-76%) and 2003 (91% vs. 40-79%), with the exception of warrant officers
(91% and 89%, respectively).
45 th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association
Pensacola, Florida, 3-6 November 2003