Developing a Website for the Navy’s Delayed Entry Program (DEP)

In addition to the website, the Navy was interested in the following topics:

HumRRO reviewed military and civilian literature on personal characteristics related to attrition and turnover. A great deal of research has been conducted on attrition after enlistment in the military, much of it performed by HumRRO, but relatively little research has been conducted on attrition from the DEP. HumRRO also interviewed Navy recruiters and Special Programs trainers to learn more about personal characteristics that lead to attrition from (a) the DEP or (b) Special Programs. We then developed a self-report inventory that measures past experiences, attitudes, and preferences likely to be related to attrition. Some scales in the inventory measure characteristics related to attrition in general, for example, degree of fit with the Navy culture; other scales measure characteristics related specifically to attrition from Special Programs, for example, willingness to endure physical hardships. HumRRO also developed a self-report inventory of past experiences and preferences that can be used to identify potential candidates for Special Programs from within the DEP pool, for example, interest in performing dangerous work and having a high level of physical fitness. Both inventories can be administered to DEP participants via the DEP website. The scores can be made available to Navy recruiters who, in turn, can use the information to determine which recruits may be invited to volunteer for Special Programs, or may need additional support or career guidance to complete the DEP.

 

Finally, HumRRO developed an operational definition of active learning and identified several measurable traits that are characteristics of “active learners” (i.e., those individuals participating/exhibiting the characteristics of active learning). We then developed a self-report inventory to measure these traits. Finally, HumRRO helped website developers identify metrics that could be incorporated in online training tools as “active learning” outcome measures.

 

Ultimately, a prototype website was developed, including online training modules and the aforementioned screening tools. The website can be used by recruiters to convey information to DEP participants and to increase the amount of interaction between recruiters and DEP participants, as well as among DEP participants themselves, even though these individuals may be geographically dispersed. The website incorporates numerous features designed to keep DEP participants engaged and interested in their Navy career, such as videos of real Sailors performing their jobs. The website can also be used to collect data from DEP participants by administering surveys or questionnaires, such as the inventories developed by HumRRO. Finally, plans for implementing and evaluating the website and associated training and screening tools were developed.