Early Career Training and Attrition Trends: Enlisted Street-to-Fleet Report 2003

N81 asked CNA to examine time-to-train (TTT), timing of training, and attrition trends during initial skills training. To examine these trends, we track recruits’ early career histories using the Enlisted Street-to-Fleet (ESTF) database, updated with FY01 accessions. We find that the initial training improvements that occurred since the FY97 accessions leveled off with the FY00 accessions, but then improved again with the FY01 accessions. For FY01 accessions, months to the fleet was at a 6-year low of 11 months. To provide benchmarks to monitor the progress of training initiatives, we present detailed training data for three ratings that have undergone training reevaluation and participated in training pilot programs. We also examine pre- and post-fleet A-school participation and find that most initial A-school training occurs before reaching the fleet. We find that few accessions participate in e-learning-based A-school courses but participation is increasing, particularly for 6YOs. Along with a decreased time to the fleet, a higher percentage of FY01 accessions reached the fleet than with the five previous accessions. Our preliminary findings on bootcamp attrition for the FY02 accessions suggest that the trend of declining bootcamp attrition is likely to continue.