Identity and Patriotism – The Impact of Patriotic and Defence Education on Career Choice

The Role of (Military) History in Motivating the Young Generation

Abstract

The role of younger generations in military recruitment is inseparable from the social, cultural, and technological transformation of this era. In postmodern societies, the perception of heroic virtues and military role models appears to be undergoing change. This tendency seems particularly evident in the age of remote and automated warfare as the expansion of robotics, drone devices and autonomous weapon platforms is fundamentally reshaping the human image of war and its ethical dimensions. The accelerating dynamics of technological change profoundly influence modern warfare and may also affect the nature of the military profession itself.  As long as the right to wage war remains vested in states rather than private companies or military contractors, I contend that military virtues and national symbols will retain their significance. The armed forces of Hungary, the Hungarian Defence Force, constitute an integral part of national identity and collective values. Therefore, they must preserve the ideal of military heroism even in an era when familial military memory, tradition and heroic narratives are weakening in society. The aim of this study is to identify tradition-preserving and value-transmitting factors that contribute to the integration of younger generations into patriotic and defence education. Supported by empirical research, it examines the value orientation and attitudes of young applicants to the military cadet vocational programme in order to explore the extent to which they possess the moral and ethical core values that form the identity and moral foundation of military profession.