Recruitment and Retention of Military Personnel in Argentina: On Quantity and Quality

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this chapter is to analyze how certain preconceived notions about difficulties in the armed forces’ recruitment and retention can be seen as a result of a singular national historical process that shape military data gathering.

Methodology/approach – We used a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including the inspection of documents, the creation and analysis of databases, observations and working with information specialists within the military.

Findings – Analyzing how the process of collecting information is designed, we found out that the introduction of the preconceptions mentioned above limits a deep understanding of the different variables that determine the recruitment and retention problems in the Argentinean armed forces and affect policies regarding them.

Citation

Frederic, S. and Ugolini, A. (2012), "Recruitment and Retention of Military Personnel in Argentina: On Quantity and Quality", Kümmel, G. and Soeters, J. (Ed.) New Wars, New Militaries, New Soldiers: Conflicts, the Armed Forces and the Soldierly Subject (Contributions to Conflict Management, Peace Economics and Development, Vol. 19), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 207-218. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1572-8323(2012)0000019016