The Young Professional in the Army: A Study of Occupational Identity

Following Janowitz's analysis of current military organization and procedure, a number of potential strains confronting draftee-professionals during their tour of Army duty are noted. By means of participant observation and interviews, a group of drafted professional men was studied with reference to these strains and patterns of response to them. The existence of such strains for the subjects is demonstrated, focussed around discontinuities between membership in the Army and in a civilian profession and around a role set conflict in the soldier-professional role. Responses to these problems are discussed in view of the relative powerlessness of the subjects, the marginality of their civilian professions, and the absence of over-riding national loyalties during the cold war period.