Generalized exchange and propensity for military service: The moderating effect of prior military exposure

摘要

To investigate the moderator effect of prior military service on the generalized exchange-PMS relationship. The propensity for military service (PMS) of young Americans, which is declining since 1990, is an important issue for its Armed Forces. The study investigates the moderator effect of prior military service on the generalized exchange-PMS relationship. Generalized exchange is when indirect benefits like preserving freedom and the American way of life accrue to the larger society owing to an individual's military service. Using a structural equation modeling approach, the study finds that the group of prospective recruits with prior military exposure had higher levels of PMS than the group without such exposure.