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Chapter 1:

Data Sources

The primary sources for this report are computerized data files on military personnel maintained by the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC). In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides the bulk of the comparison data on the national population. Though the data sources have remained constant, refinements have been made over the years, most of them in regard to the civilian comparisons. Starting with the report for FY 1994, Census data were adjusted to provide a more accurate comparison for military applicants and accessions (yearly average rather than last month of the fiscal year). Age comparisons for prior-service enlisted accessions to the Selected Reserve were also adjusted, from the 18- to 44-year-old civilian labor force to the 20- to 39-year-old civilian labor force. Comparisons for Selected Reserve enlisted members were changed from 18- to 44-year-old civilians to 18- to 49-year-olds. Starting with data for FY 1995, a further age refinement was introduced for comparisons with the officer corps. Previously the comparison group for Active Component officers comprised civilian workforce college graduates who were 21 and older. This was adjusted by establishing an upper bound at age 49, making the more precise comparison, college graduates aged 21 to 49 who are in the workforce.

In addition, beginning with the FY 1995 Population Representation report, DMDC provided edited, rather than raw, data on applicants for enlistment. In FY 1997, prior service accession data for the Active Component were added. U.S. Coast Guard representation statistics were included for the first time in FY 1998. A refinement to the age range of the civilian comparison group for Active Component prior service enlisted accessions—recently added—was made in FY 1999. The age range was extended from 18-24 year-olds to 17-35 year-olds, to better reflect the older composition of recruits with previous military experience. Some file format changes at DMDC during the past two years, FYs 1999 and 2000, have introduced some coding changes to more accurately reflect the characteristics of interest. As a result, there are some noticeable differences throughout the report in comparisons between last year (FY 1999) and this year (FY 2000). A brief description of the data sources for FY 2000 follows:

Subject

Data Source

Active Components

 

Applicants to Enlisted Military

DMDC U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM) Edit Files, October 1999 through September 2000.

Enlisted Accessions

DMDC USMEPCOM Edit Files, October 1999 through September 2000.

Enlisted Force

DMDC Active and Loss Edit File, September 2000.

Officer Accessions

DMDC Officer Gain Files, October 1999 through September 2000.

Officer Corps

DMDC Officer Master and Loss Edit File, September 2000.

Reserve Components

 

Selected Reserve Enlisted and Officer Accessions

DMDC Reserve Components Common Personnel Data System (RCCPDS), October 1999 through September 2000.

Selected Reserve Enlisted Force and Officer Corps

DMDC Reserve Components Common Personnel Data System (RCCPDS), September 2000.

Civilian Comparisons

 

Civilian Comparison Groups for Applicants, Accessions, and Active and Reserve Members

Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey Files, October 1999 through September 2000.

Civilian Socioeconomic Comparison Data

Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey Files, October 1999 through September 2000.

Civilian Comparisons for Military Entrance Test Data

Profile of American Youth (Washington, DC: Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense [Manpower, Reserve Affairs, and Logistics], March 1982).

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