The Career Motivation Study of 13th Grade Military Cadets Who Completed the Voluntary Territorial Reserve Basic Training

Abstract

The study assessed the career motivation of final-year cadets studying in the Defense sector training program to understand how their military career choices were influenced by their participation in the Voluntary Territorial Reserve service during their student status and the five-week basic military training conducted in September 2024, during the first month of their final academic year. The method of the survey was a questionnaire containing 72 response options, primarily using a four-point Likert scale. The study involved 30 students in the 13th grade enrolled in the Defense sector training program at the Than Károly Technical and Vocational Secondary School of the Budapest Technical Vocational Training Center. The study confirmed the assumption that the basic training enhanced motivation toward a military career. The positive perception of the Armed Forces improved, with 70% of respondents stating that they plan to continue their studies in a military educational institution or with a military scholarship. The questionnaire also included an assessment of the reasons for undertaking military service. In responses characteristic of their generation, greater emphasis was placed on the sense of community, exploring the limits of their abilities, and gaining practical experience, rather than the promised income. Based on the measurement, it can be assumed that undertaking reserve service strengthens the alternative of choosing a military career after graduation. To achieve a broader interpretation of the study’s results, it may be justified to increase the size of the target group and involve more institutions participating in the Military Cadet Program.