THE EFFECTS OF SEQUENCE OF SCHOOL AND FLEET TRAINING ON THE RETENTION OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL

The effects of the sequence of school and fleet training on the retention of enlisted personnel were examined. Two training sequences were employed: (1) the ''School-First,'' or conven tional order, in which men are transferred from recruit training centers to Class ''A'' school and then to fleet assignments; and (2) the ''Fleet-First,'' or experimental, condition in which men were transferred from recruit training centers to the fleet for approximately six months, then to Class ''A'' school, and finally back to the fleet. Men who were guaranteed assignment to Class ''A'' schools were labelled ''Committed.'' All other men in the sample were labelled ''Un committed.'' Enlisted personnel in four ratings (Machinist's Mate, Storekeeper, Radioman, Elec tronics Technician) were assigned to five condi tions: (1) ''Committed, School-First;'' (2) ''Committed, Fleet-First;'' (3) ''Uncommitted, School-First;'' (4) ''Uncommitted, Fleet-First;'' and (5) ''Apprentice.'' The results indicated that, in general, there was little difference between the retention rates of personnel who were assigned either to the ''School-First'' or ''Fleet-First'' conditions. However, the rela tive advantage of ''School-First'' or ''Fleet First'' conditions did vary both within the ''Committed'' and ''Uncommitted'' conditions, and within rating. (Author)