I__. - International Military Testing Association

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Although less than 10% say they are leaving due to potential changes and cuts, many more arc
concerned, and as many as 20% think it was a mistake to stay beyond their original obligation. Further 3O’;No
say it’would take a lot to keep them beyond their current obligation. While only 12% have applied for a job
in the last year, 41% have sought information about civilian jobs in case they leave the Army.
One-fourth expect to be RIFed. Even
more expect to be offered an early out (34% of
commissioned officers and 44% of enlisted). See
Figure 2. At least one-half were more concerned
than a year ago about their long-term opportunities
in the Army (62%), the kind of work they will go
into when they leave the Army (56%), whether or
not they would be able to quickly get a civilian job
if needed (62%), and financial burden on self and
family should they have to leave the Army
unexpectedly (69%). Debt exceeds available
savings for enlisted and warrant officers. Onefourth
would also lose other family member income
because of relocation if separated unexpectedly.
Over three-fourths reported that it would be
difficult or very difficult financially to be
unemployed for two or three months.
Soldiers are also pessimistic about what the
future holds. Compared to how satislied they said
they are today, fewer soldiers expect to be satisfied
with the Army of 5 years from now in respect to
job security (57% vs 38%), benctits (57% vs 43%),
overall quality of life (49% vs 39%), and
opportunities to do work liked (49% vs 41%).
Officers also expect to be less satisfied with pay
and allowances (55Y0 vs 44% for commissioned
officers and 43% vs 38% for warrant officers). The same percentage (38%) of enlisted are satisfied with pay
and allowances now as expect to be satisfied with pay and allowances five years from now. Beliefs about the
future may determine interest in remaining in the Army. Expected satisfaction with future pay, benefits, job
security, quality of life, and opportunities to do work one likes are each correlated with being more
interested in serving in a smaller Army.
Further, soldiers are even more likely to see the Army as suffering from a rapid draw-down than to
see themselves as suffering. More soldiers agreed that the Army will cut strength so quickly that readiness
(62%) and morale (68%) will suffer than agreed that they (36%) or their family (41%) will suffer.
Information Flow
Three-fourths of soldiers said they are not getting the right amount of information on future
personnel reductions in the Army; in fact 15% of soldiers said they are getting no information. They tend 10
credit the A~~J.J Times or other media with providing what information they do obtain. One soldier
commented that “Our main source of information for issues on RIF, closure of bases, etc. is the mass
media.” Only about one-half of soldiers think information on cuts in Army strength is reliable when obtained
from the chain of command; one-third said they did not get information on cuts from the chain of command.
Overall, 57% think information on the future of the Army that they receive from the Army itself (chain of
command, post newspapers, etc) is accurate while 40% think it is timely. Roughly five percent of the
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