Perceived cadre behavior, basic psychological need satisfaction, and motivation of US Army ROTC cadets: A self-determination theory perspective.

ABSTRACT

Since its inception in 1916 the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) has trained and commissioned more than half a million individuals and, therefore, produced more officers for the United States (US) Army than any other commissioning source (US Army, 2020a). However, there have been high attrition rates among cadets. While the reasons for people's engagement in the military are complex and include a multitude of tangible and intangible factors, motivation has been found to be a vital contributor to individuals' ongoing service in the armed forces. Accordingly, utilizing the framework of self-determination theory, the current research was designed to (a) examine the validity and reliability of existing instruments in measuring cadets' perceived cadre behavior, basic psychological need satisfaction, and motivation, (b) assess cadets' perceived cadre behavior, basic psychological need satisfaction, and motivation, and (c) explore potential differences in cadets' perceived cadre behavior, basic psychological need satisfaction, and motivation based on their class in the program, age, gender, and race. A total of 728 US Army ROTC cadets participated in this survey-based study. Overall, individuals reported relatively high levels of involvement from their cadre, need fulfillment, and self-determined motivation. In contrast, they perceived limited autonomy support from their cadre. In sum, further research appears warranted to gain an in-depth understanding of cadets' motivation.