Will Citizens Be Soldiers? Examining Retention of Reserve Component Soldiers

Abstract

In this study, past reserve retention studies are organized into perspectives, based on variables examined and underlying assumptions regarding reservists’ motivations to reenlist. Using these perspectives, analysis of survey data obtained from a sample of soldiers ( N 510) serving in the US Army National Guard identified the perspective associated most with reenlistment intention. Surveys were administered to soldiers right before and during combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over two-thirds (71 percent) of the soldiers surveyed planned to reenlist and about one-third (29 percent) did not. The rational-incentive perspective had the greatest explanatory power in discriminating between soldiers who intended to reenlist and those who did not. Of the variables, wanting military experiences contributed most (positive direction) to intentions to reenlist, followed by joining for military experiences (negative direction), and by joining for monetary incentives (positive direction). The discriminant function analysis combining variables from all perspectives better classified soldiers’ reenlistment intentions (78 percent) than the rational-incentive perspective (71 percent) and the remaining perspectives (ranged from 56 percent to 64 percent). Of the variables in the analysis containing variables from all perspectives, wanting military experiences, again, contributed most to intentions to reenlist in reserve military service. Variables that followed in their strength of contribution to retention intentions were caring leaders, perceptions of combat-ready soldiers and equipment, and joining for money. Results portend an emerging paradigm regarding reserve military service; reserve component soldiers want more military experiences and better training and equipment preparation for combat.