The turnover behaviour of Francophone sailors in the Canadian Navy : an example of the utility of the Canadian Forces attrition monitoring system

Abstract

The primary objectives of this study were: to confirm the structure and psychometric properties of the Canadian Forces Attrition Information Questionnaire (CFAIQ); to examine differential rates of attrition and reasons for leaving for Anglophone and Francophone sailors; and to test important components of Mobley's Expanded Turnover Process Model (1982). The CFAIQ (Lyon, 1987) captures important attrition information including reasons for leaving, CF/civilian comparisons, attitudes toward the CF experience, preparation for transition to civilian life and biographical information. Using archival data collected over a 5 year period, all Francophone and Anglophone graduates of sea-going (hard-sea) occupation training participated in the first portion of the study (N = 1077). Those who completed the Canadian Forces Attrition Information Questionnaire (CFAIQ) when leaving the Navy participated in the remainder of the study (N = 94). Consistent with previous research (e.g. Bender, Chouinard, Lee, Tanner, & Tseng, 1992; Montgomery, 1991), the results of the present study indicate Francophones continue to leave the Navy at double the rate of their Anglophone peers. In addition, Francophones reported more dissatisfaction with their CF experience and cited family issues as their most important reason for leaving as compared to job related issues for Anglophones. A LISREL analysis lent strong support to the Expanded Turnover Process Model (Mobley, 1982) upon which the CFAIQ was constructed and suggested a revised model for use in military organizations. The discussion of results includes recommendations for CFAIQ improvement and the need for a re-examination of the Realistic Job Preview (RJP) for Francophones entering the hard-sea occupations of the Navy.