Professionalism in military recreation service

Abstract

The primary focus of this study was to assess the professionalism characteristics of military recreation practitioners. Segmentation into four orientations was accomplished on the basis of responses to eighteen value statements. The sample for this study consisted of civilian personnel employed in military recreation at military bases in the contiguous United States. Data were collected by means of mail-out questionnaires. Chi square tests of independence were performed to analyze the relationship between the independent variables (orientations) and the dependent variables (questionnaire responses). The results indicated that the variables relating to internship participation, formal recreation training, membership in professional organizations, reading professional journals, and status and prestige were successful in accounting for explainable variability in groups. Job performance was related to the status and prestige accorded practitioners. From the results of the study, it was concluded that the variables most successful in identifying professionalism were those determining recreational training, internships, professional organizational membership, and professional activities. Respondents with prior military service scored low in both professionalism and administrative orientations. The study results are considered to relate to the overall field of recreation and parks.