Navy Mothers Experiencing and Not Experiencing Deployment: Reasons for Staying in or Leaving the Military

Abstract

Seventy-one Navy mothers were interviewed and completed standardized questionnaires before and after a scheduled deployment; 83 Navy mothers assigned to shore duty served as controls. Overall intentions to reenlist did not differ between the 2 groups. Women who experienced deployment were more likely than women in the nondeploying control group to report commitment to a Navy career as a reason for planning to stay in the Navy. Women in the control group, however, more often reported dissatisfaction with the Navy as a reason for planning to leave the military. Women in both groups were less likely to report commitment to a Navy career as a rationale for reenlistment intentions in the time between the initial and final assessment. Commitment to a Navy career, satisfaction with benefits, and a perception that work-day separations may benefit children predicted intentions to reenlist at the initial assessment. On the other hand, dissatisfaction with the Navy, concerns about balancing a Navy career with family responsibilities, and higher commitment to the motherhood role predicted intentions to leave the military. Significant predictors of reenlistment intentions at the final assessment were Time 1 reenlistment intentions, commitment to a Navy career, satisfaction with benefits, work–family concerns, and dissatisfaction with the military.