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ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)Attrition is the failure of an enlisted service member to be retained in service v/ithin the first term of enlistment. This paper emphasizes health/fitness-related aspects of attrition but also covers demographic and psychosocial factors. Overall 3-year military attrition steadily rose fi-om 26% in 1985 to 31% in 1995. Demographic and psychosocial risk factors for attrition include lower educational attaiiunent, female gender, White ethnicity, lower Armed Forces Qualification Test scores, lower moral character (less conformance to laws, rules and regulations), moral waivers, pre-service job instability, and less time in the Delayed Entry Program. The age-attrition relationship appears to be bimodal with higher attrition when youngest, decreasing in 19-23 year olds, and rising again after that. Attrition for mental health reasons is associated with pre-service physical/sexual abuse, previous mental health counseliag, previous treatment with medication, previous psychiatric hospitalization, low motivation, pessimism toward training, depression, lack of self-reliance, and referral to a mental health facility. Attrition is also higher among those waivered for hearing problems, skin disorders, back disorders, and prior knee injuries. Other health-related risk factors include pre-service injury, injuries during basic training, a history of prior cigarette smoking, low physical activity prior to service, greater body weight, higher body mass index and lower physical fitness. Strategies to reduce attrition include prescreening by biographical questionnaires, compensatory screening, individual behavioral health counseling, and realistic job previews. Senior leadership initiatives have a powerful effect on attrition. Attrition also appears to be reduced by increasing physical fitness prior to basic training, the Physical Training and Rehabilitation Program, and the Pre-Initial Entry Training Program (for National Guard). ."""""""""""""""""""." -lnitial Entry Training Program,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,..... For the purposes of this paper, attrition was defined as the failure of an enlisted service member to be retained in service during their contracted first term of enlistment. This manuscript reviews a wide range of factors influencing attrition but the primary interest is in health-related factors.
SUBJECT TERMS
PATTERN OF ATTRITION OVER TIME AND REASONS FOR ATTRITION.Overall 3-year military attrition steadily rose from 26% in 1985 to 31% in 1995. About 1/3 of attrition occurred in the first 6 months of service, about V2 within the first year, and the remainder in the subsequent 2 year period. Separations within the first 6 months of service were associated with performance proble...