Job satisfaction, occupational stress, and personality characteristics of Air Force military training instructors.

The authors present findings from the preliminary stage of a research program intended to improve the selection and retention of U.S. Air Force military training instructors (MTIs). Data derived from an initial sample of 100 incumbent instructors are discussed. Global job satisfaction and occupational stress levels, along with normal personality traits measured by the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, are presented. Results indicate a wide range of reported job satisfaction and stress among MTIs, with a sizable proportion indicating that they would not volunteer for this duty again. Several personality characteristics appear to be salient in distinguishing satisfied and adaptive MTIs from those who are unsatisfied and coping poorly. The authors outline plans for the long-term continuation and expansion of the project to develop an empirically based selection system for the MTI career field.

Stress management training for military trainees returned to duty after a mental health evaluation: effect on graduation rates.

A significant proportion of people entering the military are discharged within the first 6 months of enlistment. Mental health related problems are often cited as the cause of discharge. This study evaluated the utility of stress inoculation training in helping reduce the attrition of a sample of Air Force trainees at risk for discharge from basic military training. Participants were 178 trainees referred for a psychological evaluation from basic training. Participants were randomly assigned to a 2-session stress management group or a usual-care control condition. Compared with past studies that used less rigorous methodology, this study did not find that exposure to stress management information increased the probability of graduating basic military training. Results are discussed in terms of possible reasons for the lack of treatment effects and directions for future research.

Predicting outcome of military basic training for individuals referred for psychological evaluation.

We examined outcome data for 632 U.S. Air Force personnel who were referred for psychological evaluation during Basic Military Training (BMT) but who were subsequently returned to BMT to determine what proportion graduated. We analyzed motivational, biographical, and psychological testing variables, using logistic regression to develop a model predictive of training outcome. The results demonstrated that a relatively small number of variables could predict outcome with close to 70% accuracy. Level of optimism regarding training, history of physical abuse, and frequency of visits to the trainee health clinic were major contributors to the model. MMPI-2 (Hathaway & McKinley, 1989) Scales D and Sc also remained in the model but added little to its power. The findings are generally consistent with prior research on normal military populations, except that some factors previously linked to adjustment, such as sex and ethnicity, were found to be unrelated to training outcome in this population.

Mental health attrition from Air Force basic military training.

The Department of Defense invests considerable money in recruiting and training new military recruits who are discharged for mental health reasons before completing their first enlistment, often within the first 6 months of active duty. The purpose of this study was to provide a description of 1,138 Air Force recruits referred for a mental health evaluation while in basic military training. Variables examined include dispositions, demographic features, diagnoses, mental health history, and attitude and motivation characteristics. Findings show that trainees recommended for discharge often had a history of depression, expressed a lack of motivation to continue in the military, were reporting suicidal ideation, and typically had withheld information on their mental health history during their Military Entrance Processing Station processing. The results are discussed in terms of potential strategies for reducing mental health attrition in Air Force basic military training.