A study of promotion to major in the Marine Corps

Abstract

This study identifies factors related to a Marine Corps officer's selection for promotion to major. The focus is on differences in promotion between racial/ethnic groups and between men and women. In addition, data analyses seek to determine the relationship between selected variables-- including measures of performance and priority (precept-stated) occupational specialties--and an individual's probability of promotion. The thesis estimates the independent effects of demographic factors, performance, and precepts using multivariate regression models. The estimates are obtained using maximum likelihood techniques. The results of the analysis indicate that personal decorations and performance evaluations are the most important determinants of an individual's probability of promotion, and that being black or female does not statistically affect the promotion outcome.