The findings on "Army Automotive Skills Centers" from the Fall 1998 Sample Survey of Military Personnel (F'98 SSMP) provide officer and enlisted data on:  frequency of use, reasons for use and non-use, expectations, and overall satisfaction.

Findings include:

• POVs - Availability of Automotive Centers. Less than one-tenth (5.5%) of officers and one-fourth (25.1%) of enlisted personnel reported not having a privately owned vehicle (POV) at their present location. One-seventh of officers (15.3%) and enlisted personnel (14.9%) reported that an Army/DoD automotive skills center was not available at their present location.

  Of those who do own a POV and have an Army/DoD automotive skills center available at their present location:

• Use. Over two-fifths (43.1%) of officers and about one-half (47.1%) of enlisted personnel reported using Army/DoD automotive skills centers (not including Army Air Force Exchange System - AAFES) during the last 12 months. Approximately three-tenths of officers (27.9%) and enlisted personnel (30.1%) reported using Army/DoD automotive skills centers 1-3 times during the last 12 months. About one-sixth of officers (15.2%) and enlisted personnel (17.0%) reported using Army/DoD automotive skills centers 4-13+ times during the last 12 months.

• Use - Civilian Garages. Approximately four-fifths (78.3%) of officers and over two-thirds (68.4%) of enlisted personnel reported using civilian repairing and services garages during the last 12 months. One-half of officers (50.4%) and enlisted personnel (49.8%) reported using civilian repairing and services garages 1-3 times during the last 12 months. Almost three-tenths (27.9%) of officers and one-fifth (18.6%) of enlisted personnel reported using civilian repairing and services garages 4-13+ times during the last 12 months.

• Reasons for Use. Of those who reported using Army/DoD automotive skills centers, over four-fifths (82.7%) of officers and about three-fourths (75.9%) of enlisted personnel reported basic maintenance (oil change, tune up, etc.) as a reason for using Army/DoD automotive skills centers. About one-third (34.8%) of officers and two-fifths (38.7%) of enlisted personnel reported using the car wash as a reason for using Army/DoD automotive skills centers.

• Reasons for Non-Use. Of those who reported not using Army/DoD automotive skills), about two-fifths (41.9%) of officers and three-tenths (29.7%) of enlisted personnel reported "I don't have enough time" as a reason for not regularly using Army/DoD automotive skills centers. About three-tenths (31.6%) of officers and one-fourth (24.0%) of enlisted personnel reported "I don't want to work on my own POV" (privately owned vehicle) as a reason for not regularly using Army/DoD automotive skills centers.

• Expectations. The majority of officers (70.2%-89.5%) and enlisted personnel (68.0%-87.3%) agreed that factors such as location, variety and quality of equipment, knowledge and courtesy of staff, cost of service and shop time, quality of diagnostic assistance, and waiting time for access and assistance met their expectations.

• Most Important Factors. Officers and enlisted personnel reported that the top 6 most important factors related to Army/DoD only automotive skills centers (not including AAFES) are cost of service, knowledge of staff, hours of operation, variety and quality of equipment, and cost of bay use and shop time.

• Overall satisfaction. Of those who reported using Army/DoD automotive skills centers, four-fifths of officers (79.0%) and enlisted personnel (79.6%) were very satisfied or satisfied with the services.

• Overall satisfaction - Civilian Garages. Of those who reported using civilian repairing and services garages, three-fourths (74.4%) of officers and two-thirds (65.6%) of enlisted personnel were very satisfied or satisfied with the services.