Predictors of Military Training Performance for Officer Cadets in the Canadian Forces

Abstract

Officer cadets of the Royal Military College of Canada attend military occupation training during the summer months of their university education. The final grade they receive after completion of this training is kept in their permanent record and may be used to help determine their eligibility for obtaining leadership positions at the military college and to aid in their initial assignment once they graduate. The purpose of the research presented here was to examine the influence of various variables in predicting this military occupation classification phase training grade. Measures of commitment (e.g., affective, continuance, and normative commitment toward the Canadian Forces or military occupation), locus of control, and physical fitness were taken before officer cadets left for training. Normative commitment to military occupation and locus of control each significantly predicted the grade received on completion of summer military training.