Analysis of the Revised Army Career Transitions Survey (ACTS) and Comparison with the Fall 1996 Sample Survey of Military Personnel (SSMP)

Book excerpt: The Army Career Transition Survey (ACTS) was an exit survey designed to measure soldier satisfaction with various aspects of Army life and to determine whether dissatisfaction with these aspects was related to leaving the Army. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the current ACTS data, to compare responses to ACTS items with responses to comparable items on the Sample Survey of Military Personnel (SSMP), and to make recommendations about continuing the ACTS. The analysis of the current ACTS data identified high satisfaction items such as Army Community Service programs and low satisfaction items such as amount of time separated from family. Although there were a few demographic differences, most differences involved rank groups (officers more satisfied than enlisted personnel with higher levels of enlisted more satisfied than lower levels) and marital status (married personnel generally more satisfied than single personnel). Major reasons for leaving included amount of time separated from family, respect Army shows for its soldiers, and promotion/ advancement opportunities. A log linear analysis revealed no overall statistical difference between similar items on the ACTS and SSMP. Since the ACTS provides information redundant to that obtained on the SSMP, it was recommended that the ACTS he discontinued. Also included in the report are appendices containing a survey assessing the satisfaction of the users of Army survey data for calculating Return on Investment (ROI) for survey data.