Status Configurations, Military Service and Higher Education

Citation

Wang, L.; Elder, G. H., Jr.; & Spence, N. J. (2012). Status Configurations, Military Service and Higher Education. Social Forces. vol. 91 (2) pp. 397-422 , PMCID: PMC3908479

Abstract

The U.S. Armed Forces offer educational and training benefits as incentives for service. This study investigates the influence of status configurations on military enlistment and their link to greater educational opportunity. Three statuses (socioeconomic status of origin, cognitive ability and academic performance) have particular relevance for life course options. We hypothesize that young men with inconsistent statuses are more likely to enlist than men with consistent status profiles, and that military service improves access to college for certain configurations. Analyses of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) show (1. that several status configurations markedly increased the likelihood of military enlistment and (2. within status configurations, recruits were generally more likely to enroll in higher education than nonveterans, with associate degrees being more likely.

URL

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24511161/

Notes

Wang, Lin

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Social Forces

Author(s)

Wang, L.
Elder, G. H., Jr.
Spence, N. J.

Year Published

2012

Volume Number

91

Issue Number

2

Pages

397-422

Edition

2012/12/01

DOI

10.1093/sf/sos174

PMCID

PMC3908479

Reference ID

4856