THE RELATIONSHIP OF BACKGROUND VARIABLES TO ATTRITION IN BASIC ENLISTED SUBMARINE SCHOOL by

The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive relationships between selected items of biographical data and psychological attrition in Basic Enlisted Submarine School, at the Naval Submarine Base at Groton, Connecticut. The drop, or attrition group was characterized: (1) by a higher incidence of parents with a history of divorce or separation; (2) tended to be from lower socio-economic families, with less educated parents; and (3) their mothers were more likely to have worked full-time. Moreover, in high school, the drops made lower grades, held fewer elective offices, had a higher incidence of playing hooky and being expelled and had a different preference for school subjects. Finally, the drop group indicated that they had more personal problems, both at the time of enlistment into the Navy and at the time they entered Submarine School, had less self-confidence and started smoking at an earlier age. The results of this study indicate the value of biographical information of this kind in the identification of potential Submarine School drops.