Research Catalog

Title

The effect of the Assessment of Recruit Motivation and Strength (ARMS) program on army accessions and attrition / David S. Loughran, Bruce R. Orvis.

Author

Loughran, David S., 1969-

Publication

Santa Monica, CA : Rand Corporation, c2011.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Orvis, Bruce R.
• United States. Army.
• Rand Corporation.
• Arroyo Center.

Description

xxi, 55 p. : col. ill.; 28 cm.

Summary

The fraction of American youth meeting U.S. Army enlistment standards for weight and body fat has decreased markedly over the past three decades. In response to this adverse trend, in 2005, the Army allowed six Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) to grant an enlistment waiver to applicants who exceeded weight and body fat standards as long as they passed a physical endurance, motivation, and strength test known as the Assessment of Recruit Motivation and Strength (ARMS) test. The test was developed by Army medical scientists who believed that it complements existing physical tests used to identify potential enlistees who would and would not fare well in the military. The Army implemented ARMS at eight additional MEPS in February 2006 and then at the remaining 51 MEPS in April 2006. The authors find that ARMS increased male and female accessions of overweight applicants in the six ARMS study sites by 35 and 62 percent, respectively, between 2004 and 2005. They also report that this substantial increase in overweight accessions had no effect on 6- and 18-month attrition rates. Given the low cost of implementing the program, the authors conclude that ARMS is a highly cost-effective means of screening overweight applicants for military service.

Series Statement

Technical report ; TR-975-A

Uniform Title

Technical report (Rand Corporation) ; TR-975-A.

Subject

• United States. Army > Recruiting, enlistment, etc
• Physical fitness > Testing

Note

• "Prepared for the United States Army."
• "RAND Arroyo Center."

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 55).

Additional Formats (note)

• Also available electronically.

Funding (note)

• Sponsored by the United States Army

Contents

Introduction -- Medical history and ARMS data -- Trends in body fat percentage and the ARMS test -- The effect of ARMS on Army accessions -- The effect of ARMS on attrition -- Conclusion.

Call Number

JSF 12-10

ISBN

• 0833053132 (pbk.)
• 9780833053138 (pbk.)

LCCN

2011938328

OCLC

753637167

Author

Loughran, David S., 1969-

Title

The effect of the Assessment of Recruit Motivation and Strength (ARMS) program on army accessions and attrition / David S. Loughran, Bruce R. Orvis.

Imprint

Santa Monica, CA : Rand Corporation, c2011.

Series

Technical report ; TR-975-A

Technical report (Rand Corporation) ; TR-975-A.

Funding

Sponsored by the United States Army W74V8H-06-C-0001

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (p. 55).

Additional Formats

Also available electronically.

Connect to:

http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/technical_reports/2011/RAND_TR975.pdf

Added Author

Orvis, Bruce R.

United States. Army.

Rand Corporation.

Arroyo Center.

Research Call Number

JSF 12-10