Edward K Boyd

Professionalism in the Usaf: a Comparative Analysis of Commissioned Officers with Non-commissioned Officers Edward K Boyd

Publisher Marketing: Decades ago, military sociologists predicted a rising trend among officers away from traditional institutional military values and toward more economically-based occupational values due to the effects of the transition from a conscription-based military to an all-volunteer force. Subsequent empirical research resulted in data that supports such predictions. More recent researchers have suggested that in addition to the all volunteer force, an increase on technology may also accelerate the trend toward occupationalism and away from traditional institutional military values and the warrior ethos that typically define successful military organizations. The officer corps may be particularly vulnerable to occupationalism due to increased technical specialization and the corporate mindset that is evolving within the service, potentially resulting in reduced organizational commitment and a greater reliance on extrinsic motivational incentives. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of rank structures on professionalism in the context of Moskos' institutional versus occupational (I/O) professionalism model. Previous studies utilizing the I/O model have been primarily limited to Air Force officers and suggest a trend toward occupationalism among this group. This study proposes that a much broader sample of Air Force personnel is required to determine the magnitude of this trend, both in the officer ranks as well as the NCO ranks. This study analyzes the roots of military professionalism, considers the impact of recent transformations in the military, and makes recommendations about enhancing professionalism within the Air Force among all ranks. Contributor Bio:  Boyd, Edward K Edward K. Boyd was a sales administrator best known for co authoring the book Letters from a Skeptic with his son, the Rev. Greg Boyd of Woodland Hills Church in Maplewood. The book chronicles correspondence between a son and his agnostic father's questions about Christianity. Letters from a Skeptic has sold thousands of copies and has been translated into 14 languages. It was awarded the Gold Medallion by the Christian Bookseller's Association in 1995. SPANISH BIO: Edward K. Boyd fue un administrador de ventas mejor conocido por ser coautor del libro Cartas de un esceptico con su hijo, el Rev. Greg Boyd de la Iglesia Woodland Hills en Maplewood. El libro es una cronica de la correspondencia entre un hijo y un padre agnostico con preguntas sobre la fe cristiana. Cartas de un esceptico ha vendido miles de copias y ha sido traducido a catorce idiomas. Ademas, fue galardonado con el premio Medalla de Oro por la Asociacion de libreros Cristianos en 1995.