| Summary: | 博士 === 國立政治大學 === 社會工作研究所 === 105 === Transitioning from military to civilian life has been a topical subject for national policy and studies. Existing researches mostly observe the issue and conundrums from the economy-career perspective, which tend to overlook the complexity of the linkage among military transition and all aspects of their lives. Therefore, this study aims to probe why male soldiers choose to enter and exit the military, and the correlation among the entrance, exit and reemployment, hoping to obtain a dynamic understanding of military career transition.
Accordingly, the approaches used here are institutional analysis and biographic life course theory. The former is done through military records, files and pertinent literature while the latter is through interviews with 13 males (born 1957-1964 with an average age of 57).
The institutional analysis found that the evolution of the ROC’s Institution of Veteran Service can be divided into: Phase I, the centralized management and placement under the ideology of demographic-management (1949-1969), Phase II, the indirect placement under the backdrop of abolishment of martial law and democratization (1970-1999), and Phase III , a reform in the institution of veteran service after military professionalization—a proactive and normative employment integration (2000-preesent). Also, the historical period (the period when one retires) and individual period (the life stage when one retires) are profoundly influenced by the institution of veteran service that one faces which determines the financial resources and living conditions one obtains when one retires and thus affects one’s aging and life adaptation. Furthermore, intertwined with the institution of veteran service are education and military ranks, which interact and are relevant to the career path after one’s retirement.
The biographic life course theory found that “enlistment” is a decision made under multiple pressures from history, personal economic situation and family. Joining the army would bring financial support and continued education. The separation of individuals from their families of origin forms an emotional bond and attachment. The military gives them a sense of identity and a place for their drifting lives. During their service, their perception and choices interrelate with attachment and autonomy. The relations between what kind of military job they did and the transition, connection and transformation of their first employment after they retire are highly complicated and critical. Behind employment choices are different cultural backgrounds, which vary with experiences of their original family and the military as well as factors such as social-economic environment, community, work places, family and individual development. Facing different situations, the “We” during the military life became different levels of “Me”. In addition, along with the development of one’s life course, there are varied core issues about their employment choices and the meaning of jobs to them also changes while economic resources, health and social support play important roles.
As a result, this study further proposes a “hierarchical military transition” model. They are: continuous improvement, later stabilization, and midway stagnation. And several resources generate varying degree of reinforcement, substitution, and risks effects in different times.
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