Updated January 16, 2020
Defense Primer: Active Duty Enlisted Retention
Retention
disability separation and retirement (Title 10, U.S. Code,
The term retention refers to the rate at which military
Chapter 61) and punitive discharge for criminal activity
personnel voluntarily choose to stay in the military after
(Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 45).
their obligated term of service has ended (as determined by
their enlistment contract). Imbalances in the retention rate
Retention Goals and Results
can cause problems within the military personnel system. A
Table 1 lists active duty enlisted retention goals and results
common retention concern is that too few people will stay
for FY2017-FY2019. The data are broken out by Service
in, thereby creating a shortage of experienced leaders,
and retention zones, which are established by each Service
decreasing military efficiency, and lowering job
to reflect important phases in the military career lifecycle.
satisfaction. This was a particular concern from 2004 to
For example, a soldier coming to the end of his or her first
2009, as the stress of major combat deployments to Iraq and
enlistment after serving for four years in the Army would
Afghanistan raised concerns about the willingness of
be in the Army’s Initial Term retention zone; a similarly
military personnel to continue serving. The opposite
situated sailor would fall into the Navy’s Zone A retention
concern may also occur at times, particularly during force
zone.
drawdowns: that too many people will stay in, thereby
decreasing promotion opportunities and possibly requiring
The Service retention zones listed in Table 1 are defined as
involuntarily separations to prevent the organization from
follows:
becoming “top heavy” with middle- and upper-level leaders
or to comply with end-strength limitations. Each of these
Army Retention Zones
imbalances can also have a negative impact on recruiting by
Initial Term: serving in first enlistment, regardless of
making the military a less-attractive career option.
length
Congressional Role
Mid-career: second or subsequent enlistment with less
The Constitution provides Congress with broad powers
than 10 years of service
over the Armed Forces, including the power “To raise and
support Armies” and “To provide and maintain a Navy.” In
Career: second or subsequent enlistment with 10 or
the exercise of this authority, Congress has historically
more years of service
shown great interest in maintaining military retention rates
sufficient to sustain a fully manned and capable military
Navy Retention Zones
workforce. Through its oversight powers, Congress
monitors the performance of the Executive Branch in
Zone A: up to six years of service
managing the size and quality of the military workforce.
Zone B: 6 years of service to under 10 years of service
Congress influences retention rates in a variety of ways,
including authorizing and funding
Zone C: 10 years of service to under 14 years of service
overall compensation levels, particularly in light of their
Marine Corps Retention Zones
competitiveness with private-sector compensation;
First term: serving in first enlistment
quality-of-life initiatives that enhance servicemember
Subsequent: second or subsequent enlistment, with less
and family member satisfaction with a military career;
than 18 years of service
retention programs that provide for dedicated career
Air Force Retention Zones
counselors; and
Zone A: 17 months to under 6 years of service
retention incentives, such as reenlistment bonuses.
Zone B: 6 years of service to under 10 years of service
More broadly, congressionally established personnel end-
strength levels can influence each Service’s retention goals.
Zone C: 10 years of service to under 14 years of service
For example, if Congress were to substantially increase the
end-strength for a Service, that Service will generally
Congressional interest in retention typically increases when
require a greater number of new recruits, higher rates of
a Service fails to meet its goal for one or more retention
retention among current servicemembers, or some
zones by about 10% or more, and particularly if the
combination of the two. Congress also establishes criteria
shortfall continues over several years. Additionally, even if
that affect eligibility for continued service, such as
a Service is meeting its goals by retention zones, Congress
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Defense Primer: Active Duty Enlisted Retention
may nonetheless focus on retention shortfalls within
which necessitated higher retention goals? Was it due to
specific occupational specialties (for example, health care
more attractive compensation packages in the private-
professions or special operations).
sector? Was it due to decreased job satisfaction? The
perceived cause can affect interpretations of the shortfalls’
The perceived cause of any such shortfalls is often of
significance and the options for remedying them.
interest to Congress as well. For example, was the shortfall
related to congressionally directed end-strength increases,
Table 1. Retention Goals and Results
Active Component Enlisted Personnel, FY2017-FY2019
FY2017
FY2018
FY2019
Service/
Retention
Percent
Percent
Percent
Category
Goal
Achieved
of Goal
Goal
Achieved
of Goal
Goal
Achieved
of Goal
Army
Initial
22,881
22,035
96%
20,318
21,295
105%
20,253
20,525
101%
Mid-Career
23,440
23,149
99%
21,412
22,389
105%
19,430
19,702
101%
Career
13,879
12,983
94%
11,220
12,197
109%
10,833
11,105
103%
Navy*
Zone A
14,367
14,417
100%
14.360
16,998
118%
18,798
20,978
112%
Zone B
7,155
8,297
116%
7,708
9,732
126%
8,065
9,121
113%
Zone C
3,989
5,696
143%
6,905
6,908
100%
4,888
5,834
119%
Marine Corps
First
6,378
6,131
96%
5,087
5,064
99%
5,584
5,498
98%
Subsequent
7,090
6,785
96%
5,513
6,121
111%
6,209
6,124
99%
Air Force*
Zone A
13,775
17,261
125%
16,330
18,693
115%
16,330
21,233
130%
Zone B
10,683
9,983
93%
8,823
10,437
118%
8,823
11,820
134%
Zone C
7,818
8,317
106%
6,997
8,160
117%
6,997
9,008
129%
Source: Department of Defense.
Note: *The Navy and Air Force also have a Zone D and Zone E, which are not displayed above. Navy Zone D is 14 to 20 years of service, and
Zone E is more than 20 years of service. Air Force Zone D is 14 years to under 18 year of service and Zone E is 18 years to under 20 years of
service.
Relevant Statutes
DOD Instruction 1304.29, Administration of Enlistment
Title 10 U.S. Code, Chapter 31
Bonuses, Accession Bonuses for New Officers in Critical
Skil s, Selective Reenlistment Bonuses, and Critical Skil s
Title 10 U.S. Code, Section 115
Retention Bonuses for Active Members
Other Resources
DOD Instruction 1332.45, Retention Determinations for
Non-Deployable Service Members
DOD Instruction 1308.3, DOD Physical Fitness and Body Fat
Programs Procedures
Lawrence Kapp, Specialist in Military Manpower Policy
IF11274
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Defense Primer: Active Duty Enlisted Retention
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