The White Falcon - 25.01.1985, Qupperneq 3

Service people give
reasons for staying
and for leaving
By J02(SW) E. Foster-Simeon
WASHINGTON (NES) - Some sailors stay Navy and
others opt for civilian life. Surveys are helping
the Navy understand why.
About 20 percent of people re-enlisting and 50
percent of people separating from the Navy in
fiscal year 1984 voluntarily completed question-
naires, ranking the reasons for their decision.
According to survey results, sailors most of-
ten re-enlisted for more skill training, job sec-
urity and a reasonable retirement. Those getting
out cited family separation, geographic instabil-
ity and lack of recognition as primary reasons.
A recent memorandum, from the director of the
Navy's military personnel policy division to the
chief of naval operations and other Navy officials
with personnel and policy-making responsibilities,
outlines both officer and enlisted responses to
questionnaires.
Family separation and a desire to live some-
place permanently are the number 1 and 2 dissat-
isfiers among enlisted people. Dislike of sea
duty, lack of recognition and too many petty reg-
ulations are also included in the top dissatis-
fiers among first- and second-termers.
Particularly worth noting among the enlisted
ranks are the reasons career people are leaving
the Navy. Fear of losing Vietnam-era GI Bill
benefits, retirement benefits and other fringe
benefits rose considerable in importance among
this group.
Officers cited family separation and a dislike
for crisis management as primary reasons for leav-
ing the Navy. Their list of dissatisfiers also
included suppressed initiative, an inability to
plan and control their careers and a lack or re-
cognition.
In FY '84, as in FY '83, family separation re-
mained the number 1 dissatisfier among both of-
ficers and enlisteds, but the memorandum points
out "some significant and disturbing position
changes" in other areas. These include an in-
crease from 1983 in the number of people citing
lack of recognition, suppressed initiative, unfair
treatment and assignment/detailing problems as
reasons for leaving the Navy.
Some dissatisfiers are a part of Navy life --
family separation, sea duty and geographic instab-
ility. However, the memorandum states "others
which are directly affected by the chain of com-
mand require our continual attention in order to
maintain a favorable retention climate."
The reasons people leave the Navy sound like
negative news. However, these survey results
provide information which determines personnel
policy and serves to support Navy legislation
before Congress.
Schedule of religious services
EEEEnpjjf
disc.
Friday
7:30 p.m. Jewish Sabbath
Saturday
5:00 p.m. Catholic Mass
Sunday
9:15 a.m. Sunday School (Child Care Center,
Family Services Center and Upper School )
9:30 a.m. Catholic Mass
11:00 a.m. Protestant Morning Worship (Com- munion first Sunday)
11:00 a.m. CCD (Lower School)
12:30 p.m. Catholic Mass
8:30 a.m. Lutheran Communion Service (First and third Sundays)
5:00 p.m. Episcopal Communion Service
7:00 p.m. Evening Bible Study
Lay Reader Services (Upper School)
8:30 a.m. Pentecostal Service at Chapel
9:30 a.m. Church of Christ
10:00 a.m. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Survey results serve as evidence when the Navy
has to correct problems. "There is probably no
stronger voice that can be expressed than that of
a man who has decided to leave the service, say-
ing 'here's why I'm leaving.' So Congress lis-
tens," said a Navy spokesman. That's why the
Navy encourages everyone leaving the service to
complete a separation questionnaire.
Survey results have been effective in support-
ing the Navy's position on erosion of benefits,
the importance of the military retirement system
and implications of Vietnam-era GI Bill termina-
tion, and in describing the rigors of sea duty.
Past survey results, which pinpointed lack of
recognition as a major dissatisfier, led to the
establishment of the Navy Achievement Medal. Sur-
veys now include questions designed to determine
what effect, if any, the newly enacted Former
Spouses' Protection Act has on retentions.
Finding out why people stay Navy is just as
important as finding out why they leave the ser-
vice. Retention surveys are given to enlisted
people when they re-enlist and to lieutenants re-
ceiving orders. Retention surveys complement
Please see REASONS on pg. 6
The White Falcon January 25, 1985
3