The Expectations for Quality of Life of Enlisted Soldiers from the Special Equipment Engineering Battalion, Engineering Division, After Discharge from Military Service

Abstract

Background and Aims: The Military in Thailand is very important to the security and development of the nation, from protecting the independence in the founding era to defending sovereignty from foreign invasions, to maintaining peace and order and helping people in times of disaster. Such roles are not limited to military missions, but also include supporting work to improve the quality of life of the people during times of peace with conscripts. Therefore, conscripts are human resources of the nation who have sacrificed their personal interests to serve the nation. Therefore, it is interesting to see what conscripts in the Special Equipment Engineering Battalion, Engineering Division expect to live after discharge. This research aims to study 1. Personal data factors affecting expectations for quality of life after discharge from the military 2. The level of expectations affecting quality of life after discharge from the military.

Methodology: This research is a quantitative research method from a sample group of 280 people using a questionnaire as a tool and the results were analyzed statistically by frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and hypothesis testing at a statistical significance level of .05.

Results: It was found that most of the sample group were 20-22 years old, had a high school education, were registered in Bangkok and its vicinity, were single, had a pre-service income of less than 10,000 baht, were general employees, and were voluntarily enlisted in the military service. The overall level of opinions regarding expectations for quality of life after discharge from the military service was at the highest level. The results of the hypothesis testing found that different personal factors, age, education level, registered home, family status, pre-service income, and methods of enlisting in the military service had different opinions regarding expectations for quality of life after discharge from the military service, with statistical significance at the .05 level. Meanwhile, different occupations before enlistment had no different opinions regarding expectations for quality of life after discharge from the military service.