Surveys provide insight for Air Force Reserve leaders

  • Published
  • By Air Force Reserve Command News Service
WASHINGTON --  When the chief of Air Force Reserve wanted to know what is important to reservists, he borrowed Air Force research methodology to create an Internal Communication Assessment Group.

The Air Force Reserve ICAG is a group of reservists completing online surveys to provide Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr. and other senior leaders with insight into issues affecting Airmen.

More than 10,000 Air Force reservists were invited to participate in the first ICAG survey. They come from a variety of duty statuses throughout Air Force Reserve Command. Seventy-three percent are traditional reservists, 17 percent are individual mobilization augmentees, 7 percent are air reserve technicians and 3 percent are full-time members of the Active Guard Reserve.

"The survey respondents represent a scientific cross-section of reservists from around the command," said Lt. Col. Lori Largen, ICAG project officer in the Office of Air Force Reserve Strategic Communication. "Names were randomly selected, and we have about 1,300 Airmen who volunteered to participate in regular surveys."

ICAG scholars don't just sit down and begin writing surveys. Researchers first conduct face-to-face focus groups. Focus groups are a qualitative, exploratory research method that helps researchers identify what's on reservists' minds about a particular subject. The themes culled from focus groups are then used to develop measurable survey questions.

Because the respondents represent a random sample, the survey data is generalizable to a larger population, all of the Airmen in the Air Force Reserve.

In her office in the Pentagon, Colonel Largen develops the surveys, and Dr. Stephen Everett, a professional researcher, interprets the statistics.

The first ICAG survey was launched in January. Over the course of two weeks, reservists answered questions online. After the survey closed, Dr. Everett then "crunched" the numbers.

The first survey focused on reservists' perceptions about deployment schedules, family concerns, civilian employers and policy issues.
"The findings were fascinating," said Colonel Largen. "Sixty-seven percent of the reservists say they sometimes have more experience than Regular Air Force members. Nearly half - 45 percent - said there was a barrier when they work with Regular Air Force Airmen. Yet, personal morale is high, at 69 percent, with high unit morale coming in at 52 percent."

The lowest levels of morale were among the air reserve technicians, who are dual status civilian employees and reservists. ARTs felt there were more barriers to working with Regular Air Force Airmen once they were activated.

The first survey findings indicate that 18 percent or roughly one in six reservists say the operations tempo and the chance of deployment are not what they expected when they first signed up. The effects of deployments varied greatly among the respondents.

"We found most reservists prefer shorter, more frequent deployments over longer, less frequent ones," said Colonel Largen. "Thirty-one percent of our Airmen said they would rather deploy for 30 days every two years. A second option, a deployment of 90 days every three years, was preferred by 26 percent of the respondents. This means more than half our reservists prefer shorter tours every two or three years."

This kind of data is extremely valuable to the Air Force Reserve as its leaders rely on volunteers to support the combatant commanders rather than through involuntary mobilization.

"We need to be cognizant of what our reservists prefer," said the colonel. "As the Air Force looks at its Air Expeditionary Force bands, the Air Force Reserve needs to consider this input."

The survey indicated 51 percent of the Airmen are somewhat concerned or very concerned about keeping their civilian employers happy while serving in the Air Force Reserve. Sixty-one percent said their employers are very supportive of their service, but 6 percent said their employer are not at all supportive.

On the family front, 46 percent of respondents said they would have no "family issues" if deployed in 30 days. Thirty-eight percent said they would have minor family issues if deployed in 30 days. Sixteen percent said they would have major family issues.

When it comes to getting information by email, 52 percent of the survey respondents said they preferred the Air Force Reserve to contact them through their personal email accounts, 17 percent wanted emails sent to their Air Force Reserve accounts and 11 percent asked that emails be sent to their civilian workplace.

Not surprisingly, ARTs and AGRs wanted emails sent to their military accounts, while traditional reservists and IMAs preferred emails sent to their personal addresses at home.

Fifty-two percent of the surveyed Airmen said they had read most, if not all, of the last issue of Citizen Airman magazine. Another 32 percent said they at least skimmed the magazine.

"This type of statistical data is really helpful in determining the best way to reach our reservists," said Colonel Largen. "Email is a critical way we communicate, and when we look at the statistical data, we can try to adjust to our communication methods to match user preferences."

A final line of questioning probed reservists on their attitudes about a new benefit that reduces the waiting time to receive retirement pay. Seventy-six percent of those surveyed had heard about the benefit, but only 22 percent were familiar with the conditions.

"Data like this tell us how well we are getting the word out," said Colonel Largen. "We had launched a communication campaign on the new retirement benefit and wanted to measure to see if it was worth our effort."

Of those Airmen who had heard about the retirement benefit, only 22 percent said it would have a strong effect on their intentions to stay in the Air Force Reserve. Twenty-six percent said it would have some effect, but 52 percent said it would have little or no effect on their decision to continue serving.

The survey also permitted open-ended feedback and several reservists suggested making the retirement benefit retroactive to anyone who had deployed in an overseas contingency operation since 9/11.

This topic is particularly relevant because Congress is now looking at it. A U.S. representative and a U.S. senator have already introduced bills in both the House and Senate.

Another ICAG survey was launched in early April. It focuses on Air Force reservists and their relationships with their civilian employers. The next survey will focus on recruiting and retention. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)