An analysis of the factors affecting the career orientation of junior male U.S. Army officers

Abstract

This thesis developed a model to assess the effects of factors influencing the career orientation of junior male Army officers using the Army portion of the 1985 DOD Officers and Enlisted Personnel Survey Member File. Junior officers were classified as early juniors or late juniors according to their length of service (four months to four years and five to ten years). A multivariate logit regression model was estimated utilizing explanatory variables which were classified into demographic/personal, environmental, intrinsic or extrinsic categories, to explain career orientation (plans to serve twenty years or more). The results indicate that demographic factors (length of service, commissioning sources) and intrinsic factors(personnel freedom, friendship, co­ workers, patriotism, job satisfaction, job training, job security and working conditions) have strong effects on the career orientation of both levels of junior officers. Further, early junior officers are affected by the package of retirement benefits and late junior officers are affected by factors related to family. This study shows that expressed intentions of members can be used as valid indicators of later behavior based on the closeness of the match between intentions and actual behavior. This study should provide guidelines for personnel managers and policy makers to maintain targeted strengths of junior officers.