Skill accreditation in the military: Antecedents, contrast and outcomes

Many traditional and contemporary theories compare and contrast the constructs of education credentials, working experiences and personality traits. There is still debate as to which of these has the most effect on a person's employment potential. This research looks into an active-service soldier's career path and acquired skills during his military career. The research framework was designed with three objectives in mind. The first was to study evolution of education trends in Singapore, in parallel to a military training roadmap, and the extent of research into education accreditation by recent academics around the world. Though traits theory presents character and personality as being keys to leadership, and these are manifest constructs to numerous employment potential frameworks, the derivative impact of a career design is often neglected. In Southeast Asia, there is a lack of empirical studies into the effects of good career design as a stronger catalyst to employment potential.

Contemporary literature originating from the US and Europe in the last decade suggests dominance of traits over formal education credentials. The second objective was to gather primary research data to validate the inherent perception that education credentials are better regarded than personality traits. This is especially true, within the Singapore government sector and the military. This research also investigates and concludes a comprehensive career design, rather than traits have a higher correlation to employment potential. A tripartite relationship between traits, career design and employment potential forms the hypothesis for testing. Constructs of traits and career design were identified from exploratory interviews and literature, and refined through questionnaire survey and statistical data analysis.

A total of 194 usable surveys were obtained from the 300 sampling population who were extended invitation. The respondent profile includes working adults in the Singapore government sector and in-service warrant officers and officers. Factor analysis and regression presents a refined linear relationship between traits, career design and employment potential. Structural equation modelling isolates the mutual exclusivity between traits and education.

The third objective presents results and recommendations from two angles; a critical analysis of statistical variables and quantitative recommendations. The results show both traits and career design as significant variables to employment potential. The statistical analysis also indicates career design emerging three times more significantly linked to employment potential than traits. This result can also be interpreted as an outcome of culture and values in Singapore, that education qualifications provide a fall-back option or "last resort" during any career change. This research proposes, as Singapore transforms to become a global education and finance hub, she needs to adopt a new approach towards human capital management. It was also noted the inherent bureaucratic government policies, based on British colonial heritage continue to persist as a barrier to change.

This dissertation concludes with three recommendations for change. Firstly, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) needs to define the role of education within the military career design, through a SAF Military Education Vision (MEV). Secondly, centralising all military-related training and education under one-roof provides synergy and under the same unified command. Lastly, the Ministry of Education (MOE) needs to put in place a national qualification framework, with support from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in the form of a comprehensive accreditation model.