Survey of the Military Profession, Australia, 1988-1989

The project is designed as a panel study of military professionals, and commenced in 1987 (see SSDA Study No. 477). The study examines the professional socialisation and assimilation of officer cadets, their mobility and retention, and attitudes relating to the role of the military in society, as well as more general social and political attitudes. The questionnaire was divided into a number of sections, dealing with service and personal background (age, sex, marital status, education, previous defence force involvement); family background (birthplace, religious denomination, father's occupation, parent's birthplace and school leaving age, father's armed forces service); and choice of career. A section on training and education covered attitudes towards the importance of tertiary and postgraduate qualifications, the role of women in the services, cooperation between the various services and the importance of leisure time. Respondents were also asked about their views on the role of the officer and the military profession, and professional status in society, as well as on a range of social and political issues.