Military Attrition: Better Screening of Enlisted Personnel Could Save DOD Millions of Dollars

GAO discussed its report on military enlisted attrition, focusing on: (1) the extent of the attrition problem; (2) the reasons why enlistees are separated; (3) the adequacy of the data the Department of Defense (DOD) has available for setting realistic attrition reduction goals; (4) the savings the services could accrue by achieving their goals for reducing 6-month attrition; and (5) changes in policy since GAO issued its report in January 1997.