The Influence of Attitudes and Morale on the Performance of Active-Duty United States Marine Corps Female Security Guards

An unhealthy mixture of attitudes associated with the functionality of women in military duties currently exists in American society. Preferences and attitudes change over time and recently reflect a growing acceptance of expanded roles of women in military settings, including direct combat. As such, investigating attitudes of active-duty Marines is an area of inquiry that provides insight into the evolution of gender equality in the United States. Grounded within the conceptual framework of post modern military organizational models, the purpose of the study was to understand the influence of attitudes and morale on performance of active-duty United States Marine Corps female security guards. Research questions focus on factors of attitude, morale, and gender and their influence upon performance of duty. A self-administered survey, using a stratified random sample of 300 active-duty Marine Security Guards located throughout the Northwestern Hemisphere, was the data source. Regression analysis and path analysis were applied to examine associations linking gender, self-reported attitudes and morale with performance. Statistically significant associations with performance were observed for each of the predictors. This study concludes that attitude and morale positively impact mission readiness by incorporating beneficial interpersonal relationships between participants, establishing gender-neutral command climates, and instilling positive attitudes of female security guards. This study contributes to positive social change by reinforcing the concept of teamwork as a source of military success; additionally, improving morale of female Marine Security Guards is a component of mission accomplishment and an indicator of a vibrant military organization.