Is the Navy Attracting or Creating Smokers?

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the Navy is attracting smokers or creating smokers once individuals join the Navy. Demographic and smoking information was provided by 687 recruits entering the Navy and by 1357 Navy shipboard men. According to self-reports, 27.6% of the recruits and 49.8% of the shipboard men were current smokers. Shipboard smokers also smoked more cigarettes on the average than did the incoming recruits who smoked. Findings suggest that the Navy is not attracting a higher than expected percentage of smokers; rather, many men start to smoke after they enter the Navy.