Showing 1 – 4 of 4 results.
Curated
How Downsizing the Russian Military Affects Officers and Their Wives (1995-1997, Russian Federation) (ICPSR 30542)
Released/updated on: 2011-12-23
Geographic coverage: Global, Russia
Time period: 1995-01-01--1997-12-31
This study examined the effects of the downsizing of the Russian military. It was conducted in two waves. The first wave queried officers who were scheduled to be released from service within six months, officers who were not scheduled to be released, and the wives of the officers. The second wave of interviews followed-up with the initial respondents approximately 18 months later. The groups in the second wave consisted of either current or former servicemen and their wives. A major focus of the study was employment. During the first wave, officers and their wives were queried on their current employment status, whether they were satisfied with their salary, the level of skill required in their work, and their supervisor's management style. Additionally, wives were asked if their job interfered with aspects of their lives, while servicemen were asked about their army careers. Questions included how long they had served in the military, whether they were active participants in war, how loyal they felt toward the army, whether or not they planned on leaving, and what reasons were behind any plans to leave. Servicemen were asked about their level of education, whether they had completed any additional school or training courses, and if they had any civilian job experience. They were also asked what important aspects they desired in a new job, and how confident they were that they would find employment that met those desires. A second major focus was living conditions. Questions included how much food allowance they were provided by the army, how many times they and their family had moved as a requirement of their career, which services and resources they had access in their present location, the effect retirement would have on them personally as well as on their families, and what government assistance would be provided upon retirement. They were further queried about whether they currently had enough money for necessities and if their housing was provided by the army. A third major focus of the study was health. Respondents were questioned about their experience with health concerns (headaches, anxiety, etc.) and the frequency of occurrence. They were asked if they or their families had experienced significant events in the past year such as the death of a child, or the loss of their home due to natural disaster. They were also asked if they drank alcohol, the amount they consumed, and whether they or anyone close to them felt they had a problem with alcohol abuse. They were also asked whether or not they smoked, and if so, how much. A fourth major focus was social relationships and behaviors. Questions included their relationship with their spouse and their family, whether they had a confidante, in whom they confided. They were asked if they got together with neighbors, attended religious services and, if so, how often they participated in these events. A fifth major focus was the respondents' opinions about the downsizing of the military. They were asked if the assistance being offered was sufficient, whether the reimbursement package provided was adequate, and how they felt others were being affected by the downsizing. Respondents were also queried as to whom they felt deserved the blame for the downsizing of the military. During the second wave, respondents were contacted for follow-up interviews. In addition to the questions previously asked during the first wave, respondents were asked if their spouse had changed, whether their family remained the same size, and about their employment status as compared to one year prior. Former servicemen were asked if they had new employment and how they acquired their new job. If unemployed, respondents were asked if they intended to find new work and, if not, what their reasons were for not seeking employment. If seeking employment, they were asked what type of job they would like, and how confident they were that they would be able to find work. Additionally, former servicemen were asked to compare life as a civilian to their life of army service in various areas. They were also asked about life at home, their relationship with their wives, who was responsible for the key decisions in the household, and the percentage of housework they do. They were also queried about whether the work of their wives interfered with family responsibilities. If applicable, wives were asked how they were affected by their husband's discharge from the military. They were further queried whether household disagreements, child care difficulties, and problems with marital relations had arisen due to the workload of their husband at a new place of employment. They were asked about the level of help the families of servicemen needed from the government, as well as their attitude toward their husband's military service career. Demographic questions included marital status, religious beliefs, affiliation with a particular church, ethnicity, and monthly income.
Curated
Surveys of Officer and Enlisted Personnel and Military Spouses, 1985 (ICPSR 6340)
Released/updated on: 2007-05-04
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1985-01-01--1985-06-30
The two surveys that constitute this study -- the 1985 Survey of Officer and Enlisted Personnel (1985 Member Survey) and the 1985 Survey of Military Spouses (1985 Spouse Survey) -- were conducted in order to study various issues relating to military personnel. Areas of investigation included (1) the response of personnel to changes in military compensation and benefits enacted in previous years, (2) factors affecting readiness and retention of active duty personnel, (3) projected behavior of military personnel in response to possible changes in personnel management, (4) differences in career orientations, attitudes, and experiences among members of different subgroups, e.g., minorities, men, and women, (5) the demographic, household, familial, and other characteristics of military personnel, couples, and families, including special groups such as dual-career couples and single-parent families, (6) the impact of military policies on aspects of military and family life such as residential arrangements, continuing education, and spouse employment, (7) family well-being, including economic issues facing military families, and (8) demand for, use, and perceived adequacy of programs providing family services. Data collected by the Member Survey include branch of service, pay grade, military occupation, length of stay at current location, problems encountered at current location and in moving to the location, expected pay grade upon leaving the military, probable behavior under different personnel management options, civilian work experience and earnings, and the degree of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with various aspects of military life such as pay and allowances, personal freedom, acquaintances and friendships, work group and co-workers, assignment stability, environment for families, frequency of moves, retirement benefits, promotion opportunities, job training and in-service education, job security, medical care, and dental care. The Spouse Survey covered some of the subjects included in the Member Survey, but with differing levels of detail and emphasis. Attitudes gauged by the Spouse Survey include satisfaction/dissatisfaction with military housing, rights of civilian spouses, levels of demands made on civilian spouses, availability of job opportunities for civilian spouses, and childcare centers at military bases. Additional information gathered by the surveys includes sex, age, race, Hispanic origin, income and debt, marital status, educational attainment, number and ages of dependents, whether or not dependents were handicapped, and main language spoken at home. Data for the Member Survey and the Spouse Survey are supplied in separate files. A Couple File, comprising husband/wife pairs, contains merged data from both surveys.
Curated
Foreign Affairs Perspectives of United States Business and Military Elites, 1973 (ICPSR 7491)
Released/updated on: 2006-01-18
Geographic coverage: United States, Global
This study explored perspectives and sources of opinions about United States foreign policy among American business and military elites. The data collection includes information obtained from surveys of military and business elites, as well as content analysis of articles on American intervention abroad published in business and military journals. Military officers (Part 1) and senior business executives (Part 2) were asked about causes of war, prospects for peace, the most serious domestic and international problems faced by the United States, and possible solutions to these problems. Respondents' views on military and economic aid, defense spending, maintaining troops overseas, and the presence of ground troops in Vietnam were also assessed. Of the survey variables, 62 are common to the military and business officials. A limited number of separate questions were also asked of each individual group. Part 3 contains variables coded from content analysis of articles published in military and business journals, focusing on the authors' attitudes toward various acts of political, diplomatic, or military intervention as well as economic sanctions. Also explored were the apparent reasons for such attitudes, whether economic, strategic, or ideological. The study sought to identify patterns of media responses that might account for the formation of, or changes in, opinions among business or military circles.
Curated
Soviet Military-Civilian Interview Project, 1983-1987 (ICPSR 9584)
Released/updated on: 1992-10-31
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1983-01-01--1987-12-31
The Military-Civilian Interview Project interviewed male former Soviet citizens currently residing in the United States about their military and civilian workplace experiences. Respondents were asked to comment on whether plans to emigrate changed their lives significantly and if so, to specify the ways in which their lives changed. Other areas of investigation included civilian and military morale, service avoidance, and how factors such as nationality composition of the work force and initiative shown by the respondent related to performance in the military and civilian sectors. Questions relating to the military dealt with areas such as branch of service, combat experience, quality and type of equipment utilized, extent of training for military service, specific job assignments, working relationships between ethnic groups, instances and methods of military discipline, and relationship between supervisors. Parallel questions were asked about civilian work experiences. A series of questions concerning what lessons the United States could learn from the Soviet military was also asked. Demographic information elicited included age, languages spoken (other than Russian), political party affiliation, education, time frame of emigration, father's social group and military service, and city of residence at age 17.