Army Reserve Retention Impact

Army Reserve Retention Impact

Due To Deployments

The requirement for the BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Business Administration

This thesis has been

Accepted for the faculty of Endicott College Van Loan School of Graduate and Professional Studies by:

Prof. Terence Lynn, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., L.M.H.C

Professor Lawrence O'Toole, M.Ed.

Sub-Problems and Supporting Information Page ?

Technical and Other Terms Page ?

Passion for Research Page ?

Dependent Variable Page ?

Independent Variable Page ?

Chapter Two, Literature Review Page ?

The History and Importance of the Reserves to the U.S. Army Page ?

Potential Effects of Deployment on Reservists Page ?

Family Page ?

Morale and Health Page ?

Finance and Employment Page ?

Social Aspects Page ?

Miscellaneous Effects Page ?

Summary of Effects Page ?

d. Solutions: Policies and Interventions Page ?

Mental Health, Physical Health, and Family Factors Page ?

General Incentives Page ?

e. Deployment Effects on Reenlistment of Reservist Page ?

i. Summary of Solutions and Recommendation Page ?

f. Conclusions Page ?

5. Chapter Three, Research Methods Page ?

a. Introduction Page ?

b. The Questionnaire Page ?

c. Research Tools Page ?

d. Conclusion Page ?

6. Chapter Four, Findings and Analysis Page ?

a. Introduction Page ?

b. Question 1 Page ?

c. Question 2-Page ?

d. Question 3-Page ?

e. Question 4-Page ?

f. Question 5-Page ?

g. Question 6-Page ?

h. Question 7-Page ?

i. Question 8-Page ?

j. Question 9-Page ?

k. Question 10-Page ?

l. Question 11-Page ?

m. Question 12-Page ?

n. Question 13-Page ?

o. Question 14-Page ?

p. Question 15-Page ?

q. Question 16-Page ?

r. Analysis of the Data Page ?

s. Conclusion Page ?

7. Chapter Five, Conclusions and Recommendations Page ?

a. Introduction Page ?

b. Conclusions based on the Literature Review Page ?

c. Conclusions Based on the Survey Results Page ?

d. General Recommendations Page ?

e. Conclusion Page ?

8. References Page ?

9. Appendix A Page ?

10. Appendix B Page ?

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

The United States Army Reserve (USAR) can be traced back to April 23, 1908, since Congress passed a Senate Bill 1424. This authorized the Army to establish a reserve corps of medical officers. The Secretary of War had the power to order these officers to active duty during time of emergency. This first Federal Reserve and years later, a provision of the Army

Appropriations Act of 1912, created the Regular Army Reserve. This was a Federal Reserve outside the Medical Reserve Corps authorized in 1908. (Jensen, n.d.)

The USAR is a key element of The Department of the Army's multi-component force. The Army Reserve's primary mission is to provide trained and ready personnel with the skills necessary to support and defend the nation during peacetime, emergencies, and war. Reserve soldiers perform only part-time duties as opposed to full-time (active duty) soldiers, but rotate through mobilizations to full-time duty. When not on active duty, reserve soldiers typically perform training and service one weekend per month, known as inactive duty for training (IADT) and currently referred to as Battle Assembly, and for two continuous weeks at some time during the year referred to as Annual Training (AT). Many reserve soldiers are organized into Army Reserve troop program units (TPU), while others serve in active Army units as Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA), or are in non-drilling control groups of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). (GlobalSecurity.org). (punctuation comes after the citing)

As stated above those are the typical duties of a Reservist. However, since the horrific acts of terrorism on 9/11, Reservists are more demand than ever. Increased mobilization, have caused the soldier to think twice when it is time for him or her to reenlist. This ultimate proposes an ongoing issue for the retention of Army Reservists.

Background of the Problem

Problem Statement

The Army Reserves have increased the mobilizations, which has negatively impacted retention.

Background Information

Beginning in 1992, Congress had approved a systematic reduction in Active Component (AC) Army when compared to the National Guard (NG) (Lakhani, 1995). In 1995, the projections by 2000 had a 26% decrease in Active Component Army and only 13% reduction in the National Guard; decreasing the National Guard from 422,700 soldiers to 367,000 soldiers (Lakhani, 1995). Former President Clinton's targeted reduction of 575,000 Army Reservists by 2000 was projected to bring Reserve strength to Cold War levels from 1980 (Lakhani, 1995). Forced reductions have caused multiple deployments on Reservists. Reenlistment has become an increasing issue as the various Reserve branches' overall annual attrition rate is 25% with the Army Reserves at the highest proportion at 30% (Lakhani, 1995).

After deployment, 26% of Reservists plan to leave the Army compared to 18% at enlistment (Lakhani, 1995). Many senior Reservists are high level professionals who have education and experience to contribute to the service (Lakhani, 1995). These valuable soldiers are more likely to leave due to the various financial and family burdens placed on them during deployment.

Sub-Problems and Supporting Information

Many things can cause retention impacts. Some of them are:

Family - Deployed soldiers have missed out on significant impacts on the lives back home. Children are born and grow without daily input from their parent; loved ones pass on, lives change.

Morale and Health - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been occurring at a rapid rate and acts as a multiplier to other issues for a returning combat soldier.

Financial Burdens -- Loss of income during deployment.(add period)

Civilian Employment - Not all jobs are guaranteed. Promotions may be lost, job structures change, locations move, and jobs are eliminated.

Social Aspects -- Not able to make time for social events or spend time with friends

Technical and Other Terms

United States Army (USAR) - Is the Federal Reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Reserve Components (RC) of the United States Army.

Retention - The ability to keep a service member within the organization. (period)

Operational stress injuries (OSI) - Injuries caused by operational stress and trauma have always been a part of warfare. These are the wounds not caused "by a direct enemy projectile or explosive," as one textbook says, but those that injure the mind or the spirit. These wounds too can be fatal.

Active Component (AC) - Full-time soldiers who are enlisted with Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. The scope will be primarily on the AC Army unless otherwise stated.

National Guard (NG) - State-run military service on a part-time basis.

Army Reserves (AR) - Federal run military service on a full time basis.

Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) - Is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. (period)

Phenomena - As with other plurals of Latin or Greek origin, like media and criteria, there is a tendency to use the plural PHENOMENA as a singular (This phenomena will not be seen again), but such use occurs infrequently in edited writing. The plural form phenomenas, though occasionally seen, has even less currency.