We examined military retirement. We sought to determine if preretirement planning, having knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are readily transferable, and being committed to, and/or identifying with, the Navy would affect the retirement satisfaction and adjustment of a retired naval officers sample. Results indicated that both planning and transferability influenced retirement satisfaction and adjustment, while organizational commitment and identification did not. Implications of our findings, as well as a brief overview of some general retirement issues are included.

Since the current policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was adopted in the early 1990s, several changes have taken place which call into question the policy's validity. Firstly, the argument proponents of the ban use to justify it, namely that cohesion would suffer if admitted homosexuals were allowed to serve, has been undercut by social science analyses on the correlation between cohesion and performance. Their argument has also been undercut by empirical evidence from several nations that have lifted all restrictions on homosexual service, yet have suffered no decrease in cohesion or performance, despite the reticence of their respective militaries to lift the bans. At the same time, the US public has moved toward a greater acceptance of the notion of admitted homosexuals serving in the military, with 79% approving in a December 2003 Gallup Poll, including 91% of all Americans age 18 - 29. Evidence also indicates the current policy costs at least $40 million per year just to replace those who have been discharged due to their sexual orientation. Other costs include wasted human resources at a time of critical shortfalls in many specialties essential to the ongoing Global War on Terror, and the immeasurable cost of sanctioned unjustifiable discrimination by the US Government. The time to lift all restrictions on homosexual service in the US Armed Forces has come. / Major, United States Air Force

"The purpose of this study was to find out whether there are observable differences between the social characteristics and problems of civilian and military families that use a child guidance clinic. The subjects consist of twenty-six military and twenty-six non-military families using the services of the Escambia County Child Guidance Clinic, Pensacola, Florida"--Introduction. / Typescript. / "August 1959." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work." / Advisor: Robert Lansdale, Professor Directing Study. / Includes bibliographical references.

Conflitos étnico culturais, circunstâncias sócio-político-econômicas, eventos catastróficos ambientais e o terrorismo permeiam o cenário mundial e justificam a atenção que tem sido destinada pela comunidade científica à população de militares. Esses profissionais convivem sob uma dinâmica e cultura laborativa peculiar, em que a relação demanda de trabalho-alterações de saúde pode ser distinta daquela verificada em outras populações, especialmente devido à promoção de comportamentos resilientes. Objetivou-se avaliar a validade dos instrumentos psicométricos junto a militares do exército; determinar os níveis de resiliência, estresse, capacidade para o trabalho e presenteísmo em militares do exército brasileiro; e analisar as relações de dependência entre resiliência, estresse ocupacional, capacidade para o trabalho e presenteísmo em militares do Exército Brasileiro. Trata-se de uma pesquisa transversal, analítica e de abordagem quantitativa realizada com a população de militares (n=250) atuantes em uma organização militar do Exército Brasileiro situada no interior do Rio Grande do Sul. O protocolo de pesquisa constou por formulário para caracterização sociodemográfica e funcional; Escala de Estresse no Trabalho; Escala de Resiliência de Connor-Davidson; Questionário de limitações no trabalho e Índice de Capacidade para o Trabalho. A validação dos constructos foi procedida pela análise fatorial confirmatória e a modelagem de equações estruturais foi aplicada para compreender as relações de dependência entre as variáveis. Adotou-se nível de significância de 5% e índices de qualidade de ajuste (absolutos e incrementais) e de má qualidade de ajuste (resíduos) para avaliar o modelo proposto. Foram atendidos preceitos éticos conforme Resolução CNS 466/12. Verificou-se estrutura fatorial satisfatória para a explicação dos fenômenos desta investigação, não sendo alterado nenhum dos modelos originais dos instrumentos. Obteve-se predomínio de baixo estresse (58,3%), boa (49,10%) capacidade para o trabalho e alta resiliência (28,1%) e índice de presenteísmo dos militares foi de até 7,83%. O modelo estrutural hipotetizado apresentou índices de qualidade de ajuste e resíduos satisfatórios, sendo 19,3% do presenteísmo explicado pelas variáveis latentes e a capacidade para o trabalho por 35,7% delas. Observou-se que o estresse ocupacional aumenta os níveis de presenteísmo (β=-0,35) e diminui a capacidade para o trabalho (β=-4,30). Já a resiliência minimiza os níveis de estresse (β=-0,30) e presenteísmo (β=0,37); e aumenta a capacidade para o trabalho (β=1,71). Além disso, o aumento da capacidade para o trabalho implica menor presenteísmo e vice-versa (β=0,98; p<0,001). Observou-se que a capacidade para o trabalho minimiza o efeito do estresse no presenteísmo (β= -4,17). Ainda, a resiliência modera a relação entre estresse e capacidade para o trabalho (p<0,01), de forma que indivíduos resilientes sofrem menor efeito do estresse ocupacional sobre sua capacidade para o trabalho. A análise e aplicação de programas de treinamento da personalidade resiliente em instituições militares brasileiras deve ser promovida a fim de aprimorar a capacidade para o trabalho e o desempenho dos profissionais, o que irá fortalecer a efetividade da segurança nacional. / Ethnic-cultural conflicts; social, political and economic circumstances; catastrophic events from natural disasters; and terrorism are present in the world stage and justify the attention that has been given for scientific community to the military staff. These professionals live under a peculiar work dynamic and culture, in which the relation between work demand and health conditions may be different from that verified in other samples, specially due to the promotion of resilient behaviors. We aimed to assess the validity of psychometric instruments for military staff; to determine the levels of resilience, stress, work ability and presenteeism in Brazilian military staff; and to analyze the relations of dependence among resilience, occupational stress, work ability and presenteeism in Brazilian military staff. It's a cross-sectional, analytic and quantitative research conducted with soldiers (n=250) from a military unit of the Brazilian army that is located in the center of Rio Grande do Sul. The research protocol contained a form to sociodemographic and functional characterization; the Work Stress Scale; the Connor-Davidson Resiliency Scale; the Work Limitation Questionnaire and the Work Ability Index. We applied the confirmatory factorial analysis to assess the constructs validity and the structural equation modeling to identify the dependence relations among the variables. With a 5% significance level, the fitness (absolutes and incremental) and unfitness (residuals) indexes were applied to assess the hypothetic model. Ethical issues were respected according to the resolution CNS 466/12. We verified a satisfactory factorial structure to explain the phenomena of this investigation, and all original models of the instruments were not changed. There was a predominance of low stress (58.3%), good work ability (49.10%) and high resilience (28.1%). Soldiers had a presenteeism index of until 7,83%. The hypothetic model showed satisfactory fitness and residues indexes, being that latent variables explained 19.3% of presenteeism and 35.7% of work ability. We observed that occupational stress increased the levels of presenteeism(β=-0.35) and decreases the work ability (β=-4.30). On other hand, resilience decreases the stress levels (β=-0,30) and presenteeism (β=0.37); and increases the work ability (β=1.71). Additionally, the higher work ability, the lower presenteeism and vice-versa (β=0.98; p<0.001). The work ability buffers the negative effect from stress on presenteeism (β= -4.17). Also, resilience moderates the relationship between stress and work ability (p<0.01) what means that resilient individuals suffer lower effect of occupational stress on their work ability. The assessment and application of programs for training resilient skills in Brazilian army institutions should be promoted in order to improve the work ability and the performance of soldiers, what will strength the national security effectivity.

Este estudo, de cunho histórico-social, tem como objeto a inserção de enfermeiras como oficiais da Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB) por meio do pioneiro Quadro Feminino de Oficiais (QFO). O marco inicial do estudo refere-se ao início do Estágio de Adaptação militar, em 02 de agosto de 1982 no Centro de Instrução Especializada da Aeronáutica (CIEAR), localizado na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. O marco final do estudo diz respeito ao término do período inicial obrigatório de dois anos de cumprimento de serviço ativo dessas enfermeiras, que culminou com a promoção das mesmas ao posto de 1Tenente (1984). Os objetivos do estudo são: descrever as circunstâncias de inserção das enfermeiras no processo seletivo do QFO, analisar o processo de incorporação do habitus militar durante o Estágio de Adaptação, e discutir as estratégias de luta das enfermeiras militares para ocuparem seus lugares devidos nos hospitais da FAB. A técnica de coleta de dados utilizada foi a entrevista e ocorreu no período de abril a maio de 2009 em hospitais da FAB da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Foram entrevistadas cinco enfermeiras militares da primeira turma do QFO. O estudo foi cadastrado no SISNEP e aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética da FAB. Todos os sujeitos assinaram o Termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido e o Termo de doação de depoimento oral. O método utilizado foi o da História oral temática o referencial teórico do estudo foi baseado no pensamento do sociólogo francês Pierre Bourdieu, cujos conceitos de poder simbólico, habitus, campo, espaço social e violência simbólica sustentaram a construção desta dissertação. Para a análise e interpretação dos dados, seguimos os passos propostos por Maria Cecília Minayo de ordenação de dados, que compreendeu a transcrição na íntegra dos depoimentos; classificação cronológica e temática dos documentos escritos; classificação dos dados e a análise final. Evidenciou-se que diversos motivos incentivaram as enfermeiras a almejarem sua inserção na FAB como a boa remuneração, estabilidade financeira, progressão profissional, desbravamento de um novo campo de trabalho, clientela diferenciada, aposentadoria com salário integral e pioneirismo na FAB. O objetivo do Estágio de Adaptação militar foi inculcar do habitus militar nas candidatas a partir de ensinamentos baseados na hierarquia, disciplina, ética, dever e compromisso militar. Ao se inserirem nos hospitais da FAB, as enfermeiras receberam diversos cargos e funções, galgando um poder simbólico sobre a equipe de enfermagem. As inevitáveis lutas simbólicas dessas enfermeiras ocorreram com os médicos militares, com a equipe de enfermagem, com as enfermeiras civis e com a própria administração do hospital, e revelaram aspectos característicos de violência simbólica desencadeada por lutas de gênero e pela manutenção do poder, visto que as enfermeiras, dotadas de status de chefe e de militar, se inseriram num campo eminentemente masculino. / This study, historical-social, has as its object the inclusion of nurses as officers of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) by the pioneer Table Female Officers (QFO). The first milestone in the study refers to the start of Stage Adaptation military on August 02th, 1982 in Center for Specialized Instruction Air Force (CIEAR), located in Rio de Janeiro. The final conquest of the study relates to the expiration of the initial mandatory two years of active service with these nurses, which led to the promotion of same to the rank of 1st Lt. (1984). The study aims to describe the circumstances of the nurses integration in the selection process of the QFO, analyze the process of incorporation of military habitus during Stage Adaptation, and discuss strategies to fight of the military to occupy their proper places in the FAB hospitals. The technique of data collection used was the interview and took place between April and May 2009 in hospital of FAB in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Five nurses from military first group of QFO were interviewed. The study was registered in SISNEP and approved by the Ethics Committee of FAB. All subjects signed the informed consent and donation term oral testimony. The method used was thematic oral history of the theoretical study was based on the thought of French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, whose concept of symbolic power, habitus, field, social space and symbolic violence claimed the construction of this dissertation. For the analysis and interpretation of data, we follow the steps proposed by Maria Cecilia Minayo sort of data, which comprised the full transcript of testimony, chronological and thematic classification of the written documents, data classification and the final analysis. It was found that various reasons have encouraged nurses to aim their insertion in the FAB as good pay, financial stability, professional development, clearing a new field, distinguished clientele, retirement with full pay and pioneer in FAB. The goal of the adaptation was to inculcate the military habitus in military candidates from teachings based on hierarchy, discipline, ethics, duty and military commitment . When they entered in FAB hospitals, the nurses received a variety of positions and functions, climbing a symbolic power of the nursing staff. The inevitable symbolic struggles of nurses occurred with military doctors, with the nursing staff, with nurses and civilians, with proper administration of the hospital, and showed the characteristic features of symbolic violence triggered by gender struggles and maintaining power, as nurses, with their status as military chief and, inserted in a predominantly male field.

Social connection is important to one's health and longevity. However, not only do people need others to survive, we need others to thrive. Researchers call for deeper examination of the functions and processes through which our social partners help us to prosper and thrive, such as through increased physical health and well-being. Over three studies, I examined phenomena theorized to contribute to long-term thriving including positive emotions (i.e., gratitude and positive affect fluctuation), responsive support, affectionate touch, and physical health (i.e., sleep) within the context of nursing work (Study 1) and military relationships (Study 2 & 3). Study 1 provides support for the benefits of received gratitude expressions, an understudied component of gratitude interactions. Specifically, nurses receiving more thanks within their work week were associated with feeling more satisfied with their patient care and in turn positive physical health outcomes including higher sleep quality, for example. Thus, not only is feeling grateful important to well-being but receiving thanks from others benefits one's physical health as well. Study 2 extended research describing the impact of the dynamic and fluctuating nature of emotion and physical health to close relationships by examining how positive affect variability (intra-individual standard deviation) and instability (differences between each successive day's mood) promotes or hinders intimacy. The second study found that greater fluctuations in positive affect over time were associated with greater reports of closeness within military couples. Recent research indicates that variability in positive and negative mood contributes to reduced psychological and physical well-being; however, when applied to the study of close relationships, Study 2 suggests that variation in positive mood may instead benefit military couples. Finally, Study 3 investigated the degree to which affectionate touch enhances the interrelationships among negative event support, gratitude, and sleep within Veterans and their partners over time. Results offer limited support; however, one key finding indicates that Veteran daily reports of affectionate touch were associated with increased sleep quality for their spouses. In addition, Veteran reports of affectionate touch strengthened the degree to which spouses' perceived responsive support predicted Veteran grateful mood. Study 3 supports research showing that positive interactions with one's partner, such as physical touch and responsive support, contribute to sleep and positive relationship maintenance emotions, such as gratitude. Taken together, these studies offer support for the integral role our social connections play in thriving, particularly within the contexts of nursing and military relationships.

Contemporary militaries depend on volunteer soldiers capable of dealing with advanced technology and complex missions. An important factor in the successful recruiting, retention, and employment of quality personnel is the set of personnel policies which a military has in place. It might be assumed that military policies on personnel derive solely from the functional necessities of the organization's mission, given that the stakes of military effectiveness are generally very high. Unless the survival of the state is in jeopardy, however, it will seek to limit defense costs, which may entail cutting into effectiveness. How a state chooses to make the tradeoffs between effectiveness and economy will be subject to influences other than military necessity. In this study, I argue that military personnel management policies ought to be a function of the interaction between the internal pressures of military mission and the external pressures of the national economic infrastructure surrounding the military. The pressures of military mission should not vary significantly across advanced democratic states, but the national market economic type will. Using written policy and expert interview data from five countries, this study analyzes how military selection, accessions, occupational specialty assignment, and separations policies are related to the country's educational and training system, the significance of skills certification on the labor market, and labor flexibility. I evaluate both officers and enlisted personnel, and I compare them across countries and within countries over time. I find that market economic type is a significant explanatory variable for the key military personnel policies under consideration, although other factors such as the size of the military and the stakes of military effectiveness probably also influence the results. Several other potential explanatory factors such as the ease of recruiting appear to be subordinate to market economic type in predicting policy. / Dissertation

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Diss. Uppsala : Univ., 2008.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-123).