2003 IMTA Proceedings - International Military Testing Association

Tracking U.S. Navy Reserve Career Decisions 3
Rorie N. Harris, Ph.D.
Jacqueline A. Mottern, Ph.D.
Michael A. White, Ph.D.
David L. Alderton, Ph.D.
U. S. Navy Personnel Research, Studies and Technology, PERS-13
Millington, TN 38055-1300
jacqueline.mottern@navy.mil
Since December 2000, the U.S. Navy Reserve has tracked the career decisions of Selected
Reservists with a web-based survey, the Reserve Career Decision Support System. Designed by
Navy Personnel Research, Studies and Technology (NPRST), the survey relies on adaptive
question branching to keep questions relevant to the respondent, thus reducing respondent
burden. The web-based survey was designed for administration at transition points (e.g.,
retirement, promotion, mobilization, and demobilization). In addition to the questionnaire, the
system includes a near real-time query system available to commanders and career counselors
to answer questions about their commands. Through the Reserve Career Decision Support
System, the Navy Reserves are able to track the career decisions of Selected Reservists and
assess the impact of mobilization on those decisions.
INTRODUCTION
In order to maintain a qualified, productive workforce, it is necessary for organizations to
identify talented employees, train them effectively, and participate in actions and behaviors that
encourage the employee to remain with the organization. Both private and public sector
organizations, such as the military, face challenges in attracting, motivating, and retaining
competent employees. When highly skilled, qualified members leave, the organization suffers
losses in terms of talent, level of readiness, and the monetary costs associated with providing the
training they received. As such, researchers for the military continually attempt to identify and
examine those factors that influence whether or not a member chooses to stay or leave the
organization (Harris, 2003).
A key segment of the Navy personnel population that contributes greatly to the mission
of the Navy is the Naval Reserve. Members of the reserves are volunteers who are trained to
serve the expanded needs of the Navy, and make up almost 30% of the military personnel
serving with the Navy (U.S. Navy, 2003). The Naval Reserve relies on timely and accurate
retention and attrition statistics to guide its officer and enlisted personnel policies and programs.
In order to plan and manage accession, retention, separation and advancement targets in the
Naval Reserve, Naval Reserve planners, managers, and career counselors need accurate,
understandable, timely, easily accessible information on career decisions. The Naval Reserve
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The opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are not official and do not represent the views of the U.S.
Department of Navy.
199
45 th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association
Pensacola, Florida, 3-6 November 2003