Comparative Occupational Survey of Civilian and Military Members in the Pavements Maintenance and Construction Equipment Operator Specialties. Final Report for Period 1 October 1975-30 October 1977.

A study was conducted to analyze and compare the job performance of civil service and military pavements maintenance workers and construction equipment operators. A military sample of 2,675 and a civilian sample of 1,974 were surveyed by means of a job inventory checklist and relative time spent rating method. Of the three job types that were identified (grounds maintenance, equipment operators, and pavements workers), military grounds workers expressed the lowest job interest and job utilization of training and skills. No significant difference was found between civilian and military members in number of tasks performed for the total sample; however, average task difficulty and job difficulty appeared higher for the military. A major difference was discovered in length of time on the job with military members reporting considerably less time because of their transitory status. Generally, civilian workers indicated higher job interest and job utilization than did military personnel. To determine if the improved utilization of equipment was an effective means of increasing job interest for military members, a comparison was made between military data collected in 1969 and the current data, and an increase in job interest was indicated as a result of greater equipment use. (ELG)