Assessing Individual and Workplace Characteristics in Connection to Air Force Service Members' Retention Intentions

This study examined the retention intentions of United States service members through a biopsychosocial lens. Workplace retention is a paramount concern given the costs and implications for organizational stability and national security. This study identifies the unique variation in military retention intentions explained by individual and workplace characteristics and examines differences among men and women.

The study uses secondary data from 1,760 service members who completed surveys at 2 timepoints (i.e., 3 months apart). Structural equation models were employed to analyze the relationships among individual characteristics (i.e., physical and mental health) and workplace characteristics (i.e., unit cohesion and military life satisfaction) in relation to their military retention intentions 3 months later. A model invariance test was used to determine if path coefficients differed by sex.

The model demonstrated good fit with the data. For men and women, unit cohesion was positively and directly associated with retention intentions. For men and women, unit cohesion and mental health were associated with military life satisfaction. Men's military life satisfaction mediated the associations among their mental health, unit cohesion, and retention intentions. Women's military life satisfaction was not associated with retention intentions.

The study offers a holistic perspective on characteristics associated with service members' retention intentions. Mental health, unit cohesion, and military life satisfaction emerged as meaningful in understanding retention intentions of service members with some differences for men and women. Actionable insights for leadership are provided to reduce turnover and improve quality of life.