THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL ABUSE ON JOB ATTRITION IN MILITARY RECRUITS

Objective: To determine whether recruits entering the U.S. Air Force w ith a history of sexual abuse had a higher attrition rate from basic m ilitary training (BRIT). Methods: Retrospective, case-control study in volving 28,918 recruits entering BRIT from October 1, 1991, to Septemb er 30, 1992. Self-report questionnaires were given to all recruits on the second day of BMT, We compared recruits revealing a history of sex ual abuse to all other recruits at the end of BMT and at the end of th e next fiscal year, Results: We found that victims of sexual abuse had a higher attrition rate from BMT than non-victims (10.6 versus 4.1%, p < 0.0001). Four and one-tenth percent of all recruits (1,289) report ed a history of sexual abuse, and fewer male than female recruits repo rted a history of sexual abuse (1.5 versus 15.1%, p < 0.0001). However , after BMT there were no differences in any job performance indicator s between victims and non-victims, Conclusion: We conclude that recrui ts with a history of sexual abuse had a higher attrition rate from BMT than those without a history of abuse; however, those recruits who di d complete BMT were as successful as those who did not report a simila r history of abuse.