Canadian Forces Attrition, Retention, and The
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A CONFLUENCE OF FACTORS: CANADIAN FORCES RETENTION AND THE FUTURE FORCE Major Mark N. Popov JCSP 37 PCEMI 37 Master of Defence Studies Maîtrise en études de la défense Disclaimer Avertissement Opinions expressed remain those of the author and do Les opinons exprimées n’engagent que leurs auteurs et not represent Department of National Defence or ne reflètent aucunement des politiques du Ministère de Canadian Forces policy. This paper may not be used la Défense nationale ou des Forces canadiennes. Ce without written permission. papier ne peut être reproduit sans autorisation écrite. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the © Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Canada, représentée par le Minister of National Defence, 2011. ministre de la Défense nationale, 2011. iii iv CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE - COLLÈGE DES FORCES CANADIENNES JCSP 37 - PCEMI 37 A Confluence of Factors: Canadian Forces Retention and the Future Force By Major Mark N. Popov Par le major Mark N. Popov This paper was written by a student La présente étude a été rédigée par un attending the Canadian Forces College in stagiaire du Collège des Forces canadiennes fulfilment of one of the requirements of the pour satisfaire à l'une des exigences du Course of Studies. The paper is a scholastic cours. L'étude est un document qui se document, and thus contains facts and rapporte au cours et contient donc des faits opinions, which the author alone considered et des opinions que seul l'auteur considère appropriate and correct for the subject. It appropriés et convenables au sujet. Elle ne does not necessarily reflect the policy or the reflète pas nécessairement la politique ou opinion of any agency, including the l'opinion d'un organisme quelconque, y Government of Canada and the Canadian compris le gouvernement du Canada et le Department of National Defence. This ministère de la Défense nationale du paper may not be released, quoted or Canada. Il est défendu de diffuser, de citer copied, except with the express permission ou de reproduire cette étude sans la of the Canadian Department of National permission expresse du ministère de la Defence. Défense nationale. Word Count: 19,985 Compte de mots : 19,985 i TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................... III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................... IV INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER 1 - CANADIAN FORCES PERSONNEL SITUATION 2010 ................... 4 CF Strength and Attrition ...................................................................................................................... 5 The CF in the World .............................................................................................................................. 7 CF Personnel Strategy ......................................................................................................................... 13 CF Pay and Benefits ............................................................................................................................ 15 CF Demographics ................................................................................................................................ 19 CF Attrition, Domestic Economy and Employment Trends ................................................................. 20 Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 25 CHAPTER 2 - THE FUTURE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT .................................. 27 Canada in the Future Uncertain World ............................................................................................... 28 Future Threats ..................................................................................................................................... 30 The Future Demands on Personnel ..................................................................................................... 33 Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 37 CHAPTER 3 - THE CHANGING PERSONNEL ENVIRONMENT ........................ 38 Baby Boomers ...................................................................................................................................... 40 The CF’s current command and leadership climate, its policies, organizational expectations and general character are all products of its Baby Boomer cohort. .......................................................... 41 Generation X ........................................................................................................................................ 41 Generation Y ........................................................................................................................................ 45 CF Generations and Technology ......................................................................................................... 49 Generational Conflicts and Challenges ............................................................................................... 53 Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 58 CHAPTER 4 - RETAINING GOOD PEOPLE – ATTRITION’S COSTS................ 59 Financial Costs – Early Attrition ......................................................................................................... 61 Recruiting versus Retention ................................................................................................................. 65 Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 68 CHAPTER 5 - ASSESSING THE CHALLENGE – RETENTION RESEARCH AND RECENT TRENDS ................................................................................................ 69 Australian Defence Force .................................................................................................................... 69 United Kingdom Military ..................................................................................................................... 73 United States Military .......................................................................................................................... 74 Canadian Forces .................................................................................................................................. 76 CF Motivation and Dissatisfaction ...................................................................................................... 78 Deployments and Attrition – Common Trends ..................................................................................... 80 Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 81 CHAPTER 6 - CF ATTRITION/RETENTION RESEARCH SHORTCOMINGS . 83 CF Exit Survey ..................................................................................................................................... 84 Attrition Reasons by Age and Career Stage ......................................................................................... 87 Chain of Command Input ..................................................................................................................... 89 Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 92 ii CHAPTER 7 - MILITARY RETENTION METHODS AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS .......................................................................................................... 93 ABCA Retention Bonuses ..................................................................................................................... 94 ABCA Non-Cash Retention Methods ................................................................................................... 97 Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 100 CHAPTER 8 - UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES - WHY PEOPLE LEAVE AND HOW TO MITIGATE .................................................................................................. 102 Institutional Honesty .......................................................................................................................... 104 Quality of Employment ...................................................................................................................... 116 Institutional Connection..................................................................................................................... 122 Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 131 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................... 132 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................... 138 FIGURES Figure 1.1 – CF National Footprint – Major Bases and Stations. ........................................ 5 Figure