VOLUNTARY TURNOVER OF PERSONNEL IN THE PHILIPPINE MARINE CORPS: UNDERSTANDING THE FACTORS INFLUENCING ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF PMC TO VOLUNTARILY LEAVE THE MILITARY SERVICE.

Voluntary turnover among enlisted personnel in the Philippine Marine Corps presents a significant challenge to operational readiness, unit cohesion, and organizational stability. This study examines the factors influencing voluntary turnover and proposes strategies to enhance personnel retention. Personal, professional, and organizational factors including job-related stress, job mismatch, leadership support, career satisfaction, and work- life balance are analyzed to determine their impact on personnel attrition. An explanatory sequential design approach, combining surveys, interviews, and document analysis, was employed to collect data from enlisted personnel across various PMC units nationwide. Quantitative findings identify patterns in turnover intentions, while qualitative data provide deeper insights into individual motivations for leaving the service. Results indicate that leadership support, administrative policies, and workplace culture significantly influence retention, with job dissatisfaction and family responsibilities emerging as primary drivers of voluntary separation. The study highlights the necessity of a comprehensive retention program that addresses financial incentives, career development, leadership engagement, and family support mechanisms. Enhancing these aspects is essential to reducing voluntary turnover and ensuring the PMC maintains a highly skilled and committed force capable of fulfilling its mission requirements. This research contributes to the development of evidence- based policies to improve personnel retention within the PMC.