Analyzing the Value Types and Factors That Influence Military Cadets in Taiwan to Determine the Appropriate Candidate. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Yi-Ming
• Is Part Of: Armed forces and society. Volume 41:Number 4(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 714
• Page End: 733
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: cadets value -- RoKeach's value -- recruitment -- Battistelli model; Sociology, Military -- Periodicals; Sociology, Military -- United States -- Periodicals; Armed Forces -- Periodicals; United States -- Armed Forces -- Periodicals; 306.27
• DOI: 10.1177/0095327X14527947
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-327X

Abstract

Previous studies have unanimously agreed that despite the challenges of postmodernism, militaries should not and cannot be governed using an occupational model. However, what the notion of the value type of a postmodern army is should be clarified. This study investigates the changing values of postmodern militaries caused by external economic factors. For this research, a questionnaire and long-term investigation method were adopted to collect 262 cadet samples from the Taiwanese military, navy, and air force. The results of a cluster analysis showed that the cadets primarily comprised 3 types, that is, the devotion (DE) type, socially competent (SC) type, and the comfortable (CO) type. This study shows that the socially competent type best satisfies the value demands of the military. In addition, the enlistment motivations of this type of cadet are generally to alleviate family financial burdens, non-economic-related reasons, self-actualization, and patriotism.