Self-Selection, Socialization, And Distinctive Military Values: Attitudes of High School Seniors

Abstract

It has long been accepted that military personnel share a set of beliefs, sometimes characterized as promilitary values, which are distinctive from those of civilians. This report focuses on whether such differences arise because of socialization processes involved in military training and service, or because of prior differences in values and beliefs among those who select to enter military service. Data from large-scale questionnaire surveys of high school seniors in 10 classes (1976-85) clearly support the self-selection interpretation; those expecting to serve-and especially those expecting military careers-were consistently more promilitary than their classmates. The largest differences involved perceptions of military job opportunities; views on military supremacy, intervention, and obedience also differed, but less sharply. These findings among seniors closely replicate earlier research comparing soldiers, sailors, and civilians; taken together, the data suggest that self-selection is the dominant factor and that actual service may not substantially enhance prior attitude differences. The paper briefly explores implications for a "separate military ethos," given an all-volunteer force containing growing numbers of careerists.