United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-06-28 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:GAO-01-785 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-785 P0b002ee180379e3e f:d01785 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-785 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-785 GAO-01-785 Military personnel Personnel management Job satisfaction surveys Attrition rates Military recruiting Quality of life Enlisted personnel Other Written Product A01268 This report reviews the Department of Defense's 1999 broad-based survey of active duty personnel to help shed light on why servicemembers in critical occupational areas might be leaving the military. From comparing the responses of retention-critical personnel against other enlisted personnel, GAO concluded that personnel in retention-critical occupations are not being ''pushed out'' of the military by their experiences at a greater rate than other enlisted personnel. Rather, to the extent they possess marketable skills, it is more likely they are being ''pulled out'' of the military by more attractive civilian opportunities. Comparing retention-critical personnel against other enlisted personnel, GAO observed that the expectations and experiences of personnel serving in retention-critical occupations were, in general, similar to those of other enlisted personnel. Personnel in retention-critical occupations were generally as satisfied with military life as were other enlisted personnel and each group's career intentions were similar. Nearly half of both retention-critical and other enlisted personnel were satisfied with the military way of life. Perceptions of civilian life for those serving in retention-critical occupations were mixed. Overall, most enlisted personnel had a positive perception about work-related opportunities and the quality of life available in the civilian world. Those in retention-critical occupations that had highly marketable skills, such as electronics equipment repairers, were especially optimistic about their opportunities for civilian employment. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-785/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-785.htm GAO-01-785 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-785 Other Written Product GAO-01-785; Military Personnel: Perceptions of Retention-Critical Personnel Are Similar to Those of Other Enlisted Personnel; Military personnel Personnel management Job satisfaction surveys Attrition rates Military recruiting Quality of life Enlisted personnel Public Law 106-65