Commitment to military service among Finnish conscripts
Salo, Mikael (2009-07)
Salo, Mikael
Johtamisen ja sotilaspedagogiikan laitos
johtaminen
yleisesikuntaupseerikurssin opiskelijan diplomityö
General Staff Officer Course 54
07 / 2009
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin kielletty.
Julkinen
Julkinen
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201201011005
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201201011005
Tiivistelmä
This research establishes the primary components, predictors, and consequences of
organizational commitment in the military context. Specifically, the research examines
commitment to the military service among Finnish conscripts and whether initial affective
commitment prior to service predicts later commitment, attitudes, behavior, and performance,
and, furthermore, analyzes the changes in commitment and its possible outcomes.
The data were collected from records as well as by surveys from 1,387 rank and file soldiers,
immediately after they reported for duty, near the end of basic training, and near the end of 6
to 12 months of service. The data covered a wide array of predictor variables, including
background items, attitudes toward conscription, mental and physical health, sociability,
training quality, and leadership. Moreover, the archival data included such items as rank,
criminal record, performance ratings, and the number of medical examines and exemptions.
The measures were further refined based on the results of factor analysis and reliability tests.
The results indicated that initial commitment significantly corresponded with expected
adjustment, intentions to stay in the military, and acceptance of authority. Moreover, initial
commitment moderately related to personal growth, perceived performance, and the number
of effective service days at the end of service. During basic training, affective commitment
was mostly influenced by challenging training, adjustment experiences, regimentation, and
unit climate. At the end of service, committed soldiers demonstrated more personal growth
and development in service, had higher-level expected performance, and less malingering
during their service. Additionally, they had significantly more positive attitudes toward
national defense. The results suggest that affective commitment requires adequate personal
adjustment, experiences of personal growth and development, and satisfaction with unit
dynamics and training.
This research contributes to the theoretical discussion on organizational commitment and the
will to defend the nation and advances developing models to support and manage conscript
training, education, leadership, and personnel policy. This is achieved by determining the
main factors and variables, including their relative strength, that affect commitment to the
military service. These findings may also facilitate in designing programs aimed at reducing
unwanted discharges and inadequate performance. In particular, these results provide tools
for improving conscripts’ overall attachment to and identification with the military service.
organizational commitment in the military context. Specifically, the research examines
commitment to the military service among Finnish conscripts and whether initial affective
commitment prior to service predicts later commitment, attitudes, behavior, and performance,
and, furthermore, analyzes the changes in commitment and its possible outcomes.
The data were collected from records as well as by surveys from 1,387 rank and file soldiers,
immediately after they reported for duty, near the end of basic training, and near the end of 6
to 12 months of service. The data covered a wide array of predictor variables, including
background items, attitudes toward conscription, mental and physical health, sociability,
training quality, and leadership. Moreover, the archival data included such items as rank,
criminal record, performance ratings, and the number of medical examines and exemptions.
The measures were further refined based on the results of factor analysis and reliability tests.
The results indicated that initial commitment significantly corresponded with expected
adjustment, intentions to stay in the military, and acceptance of authority. Moreover, initial
commitment moderately related to personal growth, perceived performance, and the number
of effective service days at the end of service. During basic training, affective commitment
was mostly influenced by challenging training, adjustment experiences, regimentation, and
unit climate. At the end of service, committed soldiers demonstrated more personal growth
and development in service, had higher-level expected performance, and less malingering
during their service. Additionally, they had significantly more positive attitudes toward
national defense. The results suggest that affective commitment requires adequate personal
adjustment, experiences of personal growth and development, and satisfaction with unit
dynamics and training.
This research contributes to the theoretical discussion on organizational commitment and the
will to defend the nation and advances developing models to support and manage conscript
training, education, leadership, and personnel policy. This is achieved by determining the
main factors and variables, including their relative strength, that affect commitment to the
military service. These findings may also facilitate in designing programs aimed at reducing
unwanted discharges and inadequate performance. In particular, these results provide tools
for improving conscripts’ overall attachment to and identification with the military service.
Kokoelmat
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