Career Transition of Military Personnel With Special Reference to Disabled Soldiers

Abstract

The research undertaken relates to the career transition of military personnel newlinewith special reference to disabled soldiers. The very purpose of the research newlineis to explore the career transition experiences from military to civilian newlineemployment or self-employment, phases of career transition, opportunities newlineavailable and challenges faced during career transition. The research also newlineaims to develop strategies for rehabilitation and resettlement of disabled newlinesoldiers. Hence, the research is aptly titled as Career Transition of Military newlinePersonnel with special reference to Disabled Soldiers. newlineCareer transition of military personnel is challenging as they transition from newlinedisciplined and regimented work culture to civilian work culture. Officers newlinecareer transition is smooth as compared to soldiers. They get facilitated with newlineresettlement programs whereas soldiers left with minimum resettlement newlinetraining facility. In case of disability benefits soldiers face discrimination newline[Appendix 1 and 2]. Soldiers who have sacrificed their life in guarding the newlinenation require resettlement programs for future earnings. When they get newlinedisabled in line of duty, their future is blank. Hence there is need to study newlinethe career transition of disabled soldiers from military to civilian newlineemployment of self-employment. newlineThis research is carried out on disabled soldiers from rehabilitation centre, newlineparaplegic centre and artificial limb centre. Data is collected by using newlineschedules. Total 406 disabled soldiers responded to the schedule. The data newlineis analysed by using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 26.0. Factor analysis is used for newlinedata reduction which result into three factors of career transition experience, newlineone factor of successful career transition and four factors of challenges and newlineopportunities during career transition from military to civilian employment. newlineBased on literature review conceptual model is framed. Factor analysis and newlineconceptual model helped in developing structural equation model (SEM) of newlinecareer transition model of disabled soldiers. Hypothesis are tested by using newlineSEM of career transition of disabled soldiers. Descriptive statistics newlinefacilitated to provide the answer for few research questions and objectives. newlineData analysis assisted in hypothesis testing. Rehabilitation efforts and newlineII newlineorganizational support are positively related to each other. These factors newlinefacilitate into successful career transition. There are various personal issues newlineand social constraints which acts as mediating variables. It affects the newlinerelationship between rehabilitation efforts and successful career transition. newlineBe it the Indo-Pak war of 1965 or the war of Kargil, Indian soldiers have newlinealways fought with exemplary courage, risking their lives time and again to newlinedefend their nation. All have celebrated their victory and successes but how newlinemany of us have actually thought about the soldiers who were severely newlinewounded or declared disabled for the rest of their lives? Based on the results newlineof this study, researcher suggested KPCT model for effective rehabilitation newlineof disabled soldiers. This model is an important contribution to the HRD newlineliterature. newline