| Summary |
The purpose of this research project was to obtain usable insights into the reasons why young men volunteer for military service as an occupational choice and why they subsequently leave the military service. From these insights, the underlying aim was to make recommendatior3 for modifying existing Marine Corps counseling programs that would be in keeping with individual needs. A researcher-designed questionnaire was utilized to gain the data. The researcher orally introduced the study project to 10 groups of marines who were within 100 days of discharge. The questionnaires were distributed to the individuals and 265 of the attendees consented to take part in the study. Some of the major issues dealt with are the advertisement media that influenced enlistment in the Marine Corps, the personal reasons of the volunteers for enlisting, the factors that persuaded enlistees not to re-enlist, the civilian and military educational opportunities and counseling, an evaluation of the existing Marine Corps counseling program, and the vocational intentions of the first-term enlistees at time of discharge. To identify the study group, selected parameters were established and the aspects of educational level, marital status, age, and term of enlistment were recorded. The questionnaire contained 16 distinct items, and each item was treated as a separate study entity. In addition to the narrative explanation of the data, numerical tables and graphic figures were incorporated with the narrative to facilitate understanding and to provide quick and easy interpretation. The findings indicate that young men volunteer for military service because of the social obligation. The idea that the military service was chosen as a reasoned occupational choice and a life vocation received little support. Enlistees seemed to feel that their military training and experience did provide them with skills for civilian jobs, but there was a minimal transition of military skills to comparable civilian positions. Although the enlistees achieved some success in obtaining civilian education while in the military service, respondents expressed dissatisfaction with military commitments that thwarted educational pursuits. The hindrance to educational desires was probably aligned with the response "regimented, military life" which was the factor listed as the primary deterrent to reenlistment. Enlistees felt that the Marine Corps counseling program was fairly effective for long-range career planning but ineffective for the satisfaction of immediate desires for job change or job opportunity. In this context, they see a greater need for individual understanding in assignment. From these findings, it may be concluded that an enlistment in the Marine Corps is not viewed as an occupational choice. Therefore, it is recommended that the Marine Corps' long-range career counseling program be directed more intensively to marines who have intentions of a military service career. Furthermore, adjustment should be made to fulfill the immediate job desires of those marines whose intention is to satisfy only their initial contract obligation. |
