2003 IMTA Proceedings - International Military Testing Association

Spouse/significant other support to stay on active duty increased 8-percentage points
from 1999 to 2002 (44% vs. 52%), but decreased 6-percentage points from 2002 to 2003 (52%
vs. 46%). Meanwhile, the percentage of spouses/significant others that favored leaving active
duty decreased 7-percentage points from 1999 to 2002 (40% vs. 33%), but increased 3percentage
points from 2002 to 2003 (33% vs. 36%).
In 1999, fewer Marine Corps members (37% vs. 43-48%) indicated that their
spouse/significant other favored staying on active duty, whereas Air Force members (48% vs.
37-43%) were the most likely to indicate they had spouse/significant other support for staying.
Again, in 2002, fewer Marine Corps members indicated that their spouse/significant other was
supportive of their remaining on active duty (44% vs. 52-56%). However, in 2003, there were
no significant differences among the Services.
Across the three surveys, fewer junior enlisted members indicated that their
spouse/significant other favored staying on active duty than other paygrade groups. The
percentage indicating that their spouse/significant other favored staying increased from 1999
(27% vs. 42-57%) to 2002 (35% vs. 57-67%), but decreased from 2002 to 2003 (30% vs. 47-
60%). In both 1999 (42%) and 2003 (47%), fewer junior officers indicated that their
spouse/significant other favored staying on active duty than other paygrade groups in that year,
excluding junior enlisted.
Correlations of Satisfaction and Retention Measures
As Table 1 shows, strong correlations were found across the three surveys between
member satisfaction with military life and intention to remain in the military. Correlations of the
greatest magnitude were between likelihood of staying, staying for 20 years, and
spouse/significant other support.
Table 1. Correlation Matrix: Satisfaction and Retention Indices from 1999-2003
Likelihood of Staying
Likelihood of Staying
for 20 Years
Spouse/Significant
Other Support
1999 2002 2003 1999 2002 2003 1999 2002 2003
Overall Satisfaction .55 .55 .53 .51 .54 .51 .44 .46 .39
Likelihood of Staying — — — .75 .75 .80 .66 .61 .56
Likelihood of Staying
for 20 Years
— — — — — — .57 .53 .51
Note: Correlations significant at the p < .0001 level
163
45 th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association
Pensacola, Florida, 3-6 November 2003