Enlistment Propensities of University Students

摘要

Enlistment propensities of undergraduates were assessed through surveys conducted at Northwestern University, University of Arizona, University of California-Los Angeles, and University of Illinois-Chicago. The core finding was that there is a definite, albeit limited, population that would be amenable to a short enlistment option - 18 months -- coupled with educational benefits. Enlistment propensity was positively correlated with having a friend/relative with military experience, student debt, and the probability of serving overseas. Political orientation was not correlated with enlistment propensity. The overall conclusion supports a dual-market approach in recruitment. Namely, incentives attractive to high socio-economic status youth differ from those conventionally aimed at working-class youth. Recommendations include: (1) incorporate social psychological theories in recruitment analyses to counterbalance prevailing econometric approaches, (2) rely more on veterans who were not career soldiers for recruiters, (3) aim advertisement at veterans to influence younger relatives and friends to enlist, (4) emphasize military service as a rewarding change of pace between undergraduate and graduate school or between school and career.