Motivations of Students Admitted to National Defence Sectoral Vocational Training Regarding Their Choice of Military Cadet Profession

Abstract

The study assessed the career motivation of graduating primary school students who applied for vocational training in the defense sector, aiming to explore the factors influencing their decisions during secondary school selection. The research focused on eighth-grade students admitted to the defense program of the Than Károly Technical and Vocational Secondary School of the Budapest Technical Vocational Training Center. A total of 54 students participated in the survey, which employed a questionnaire containing 30 items, typically using a four-point Likert scale. The findings confirmed that the primary socialization environment – particularly interactions and experiences based on direct personal encounters – showed a significant relationship with the career orientation activities of the secondary school offering defense-sector vocational training. In addition to the material and technical support provided within the framework of the Hungarian Defence Cadet Program, major motivational factors included the career orientation open day, the demonstration classes experienced during that event, the school’s recognized quality in cadet training, and its positive public reputation. Given that the sample primarily covered students from Budapest and its metropolitan area, a broader interpretation of the findings would benefit from including additional institutions participating in the Hungarian Defence Cadet Program.