Factors influencing the selection of branch of service by the Philippine Military Academy cadets

Abstract

Unlike other service academies, Philippine Military Academy(PMA) produces regular officers who are distributed in the three major service branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) namely: Philippine Army(PA), Philippine Navy(PN), and Philippine Air Force(PAF). The distribution of officers in the different branches of service is done while they are still cadets and on the basis of cadets' preference .However, due to the quota set forth by higher headquarters for the number of cadets joining in each branch of service, the proportional distribution of cadets in the different branch of service is not realized. Knowing and understanding the various factors and their influence on the selection of branch of service is important in improving the distribution of cadets in the different branches of the AFP. Improved recruitment policies that capitalize on the perceived factors may balance the distribution of cadets on the basis of their preferences. This study aimed to find out the factors that influence the selection of branch of service by the cadets of Philippine Military Academy. The specific problems answered in the study were: 1. What are the factors that influence the selection of branch of service of cadets belonging to PMA classes 2004 and 2005? 2. What is the extent of influence of the following factors to the members of PMA classes 2004 and 2005 with regard to the selection of their branches of service? a. social b. economic c. personality 3. How do the following factors, social, economic, and personality differ as to their influence on the selection of branch of service of the cadets belonging to PMA classes 2004 and 2005 when grouped according to: a. age b. ethnicity 4. How does the selection of branch of service differ according to: a. age b. ethnicity c. gender The study made use of the descriptive survey method of research. Survey questionnaires coupled with Informal interviews were used as data gathering tools. The study was conducted among the entire members of PMA classes 2004 and 2005. Frequency counts, ranking, weighted mean, t-test, one way analysis of variance and Chi-square test were used in the treatment of data. Spearman's rank correlation and Kendall coefficient concordance were also used to measure the association of ranked factors. The following were the major findings of the study: 1. The main social factors influencing the selection of branch of service of cadets belonging to PMA classes 2004 and 2005 were inspiration from somebody who is from the same branch of service, prestige, and unique socio-cultural tradition of the service. On economic factors, both classes shared two identical factors. One is a stable and more secure means to support their family and the other is wide range of opportunities when the cadets go out of the service. Class 2004 chose easier access to monitor and support their family as one factor while class 2005 identified attractive fringe benefits as the other factor. As far as personality factors, both classes mentioned managerial/leadership interest and competence, service to society, and thrill on field life and experience as the most influential factors. 2. Social factors had less influence on the selection of branch of service by cadets belonging to PMA classes 2004 and 2005; economic factors had strong influence on those who are joining in the Navy and the Air Force but had les influence for those going to the Army. Personality factors had strong influence to those joining either in the Army, Navy, or Air Force. 3. The influence of social, economic, and personality factors do not differ significantly when cadets are grouped according to age and ethnicity. 4. The selection of branch of service differ significantly according to gender but not with age and ethnicity. Based on the findings, these conclusions were drawn: 1.The members of PMA classes 2004 and 2005 are influenced by almost the same social, economic, and personality factors. 2. Social, economic and personality factors induced the same level of influence on the choice of members of PMA' classes 2004 and 2005 when grouped according to their branch of service. However, the strong influence of economic factors made some members of PMA classes 2004 and 2005 preferred Navy and Air Force as their branch of service. 3. Age and ethnicity grouping do not have significant effect on the extent of influence of social, economic and personality factors in the choice of branch of service by cadets. 4. The preference for a branch of service is not influenced by age and ethnicity grouping of the cadets. However, gender influenced the choice significantly. Based on the study the following recommendations are offered: 1. PMA in particular and the AFP in general may capitalize on the identified social, economic, and personality factors in their recruitment of prospective applicants. 2. The Department of Ground Warfare of Tactics Group, PMA should find means to offset the strong influence of economic factors which drive a lot of cadets to prefer Navy and Air Force as their branch of service. The Army officers might as well strengthen their image as role models and drum up the feeling of prestige and emphasized service to society as an implied task of the Army in order to draw more cadets to volunteer in that branch of service. 3. The Higher Headquarters have to push and make representations for the enactment of law that would increase the amount of P240/month combat pay being received by the Army personnel to be more or less at par with the flying pay of the Air Force and sea duty pay of the Navy which is equivalent to 50% and 25% of their base pay, respectively. It may also be appropriate to provide more incentives for Army men in order to win over more quality personnel to volunteer in that branch. 4. The Department of Leadership Development, Tactics Group, PMA has to formulate a written policy if there is still none or modify existing policy on the distribution of cadets in the different branches of service so that unequal distribution of cadets on the basis of their academic standing has to be minimized if it can not entirely be avoided. 5. A replication of this study involving the performance in the field of the officers who joined in their preferred branch of service and those who joined in the service not of their preference may be undertaken. Another study may be conducted to study the feasibility of establishing separate academies for the Army, Navy, or Air Force with the end in view of doing away with the practice or tendency of assigning an officer to a branch of service not actually his own preference or primary choice.