Human resource complex survey in Estonian Defence Forces

Conscripts in Estonian Defence Forces in 2023-2024

Summary of the 2023/2024 complex survey

The 2023/2024 complex survey report covered various topics such as differences in call-ups, physical fitness, conscripts’ views on commanders and training, the relationship between the national defence attitudes and family military heritage of the conscript, i.e. the father’s previous conscript service, and the relationship between conscripts’ self-perception and service experiences.

Conscripts are called up three times a year: in January, July and October. The sociodemographic and attitudinal profiles of conscripts are increasingly different across call-ups. Conscripts of the July call are, on average, the youngest, and most of them enter the service based on a personal application, which in turn leads to differences in national defence attitudes among call-ups. For example, conscripts from the July call consider their military skills higher than those of the October and winter intakes. Even if the composition of intakes in terms of age, education level, and home language were identical, conscripts of the October intake would still rate their ability to perform military tasks lower than those who entered in July. In other words, the winter and July intakes stand out with greater efficiency, which may be linked to the longer service period of 11 months compared to the 8 months of the October intake and the profile of the conscripts of the October intake, as a shorter period is often chosen by the people with less willingness to contribute.

It also became clear that over the past four years, satisfaction with service and training has increased but satisfaction with commanders has remained relatively on the same level. Satisfaction does not depend only on the service experience but also on the motivation to contribute and the mindset of the conscript who entered the service. Conscripts are most satisfied with sports opportunities, living conditions, catering, and relations with fellow conscripts. At the start of service, one in three or four conscripts passed the physical fitness test (PFT). Near the end of the basic soldier course, around 60 percent passed, although the share of those who pass at the end of conscript service is slightly lower. From the end of the basic soldier course, conscripts’ physical fitness level remains roughly the same until they enter the reserve.

Regarding the intergenerational transmission of military heritage, it was found that respondents whose fathers had completed conscript service held more positive attitudes towards service and national defence than those whose fathers had not served or who lacked information about their father’s service.

Locus of control is a concept from the field of psychology that explains the extent to which a person believes they can influence the events of their life (internal locus of control) and the extent to which these are the result of external factors such as luck or chance (external locus of control). The results showed a shift toward internal locus of control during conscript service, indicating an increasing belief that individuals are active agents in shaping their own lives and that life depends less on external forces. Conscripts with a strong internal locus of control were more confident about completing service. They were more interested in leadership challenges and completing the junior non-commissioned officer course. They were more satisfied with their service experience compared to conscripts with a moderate or strong external locus of control. They also considered the training to be feasible and interesting twice as often and had a better understanding of their tasks and role within the team.

Expectations, attitudes, and relationships among national defenders in a changed security environment

Summary of the 2022/2023 complex survey

The 2022/2023 complex survey report focused on conscripts’ expectations on conscript service and their assessment on fulfilling these expectations, problematic relationships during conscript service, the physical fitness of conscripts, defence-related attitudes of national defence participants, the impact of place-related conflicts during the exercise “Ussisõnad 2023”, and women in conscript service – including their motivation, attitudes, and the attitudes of fellow conscripts toward them. In addition to the data from the 2022/2023 complex survey, the 2023 report also used data collected in 2023 following the “Kevadtorm” and “Ussisõnad” reservist refreshment trainings.

The results indicate that at the beginning of conscript service, conscripts are oriented towards personal development. However, by the end of service, they come to understand that the most important goals are related to becoming a reservist. Women who have entered conscript service are more interested in a career in the Defence Forces, despite most of them having perceived heightened attention due to their gender, including negative attention. At the beginning of service, one third of young men thought that women’s participation in service would lead to problems in organising everyday life, whereas by the end of service only one fifth considered it to be a problem.

The average age of conscripts has shifted noticeably downward. While in 2016, a quarter of conscripts who began conscript service were up to 19 years old, in 2022 this share had risen to two thirds. In relation, conscripts’ self-assessment on their health and physical fitness has also improved, although this does not result from an overall improvement in physical fitness but from the higher proportion of younger conscripts.

The analysis also showed that a third of conscripts consider conscript service to be a waste of time. Conscripts who entered the service reluctantly are many times more likely to consider conscription a waste of time than those who entered voluntarily or out of obligation. Conscripts who consider conscription a waste of time fall into three categories: 1) those disappointed with conscription, 2) those critical of conscription, and 3) those indifferent to conscription. The survey revealed that nearly three-quarters of conscripts were satisfied with their relationships with fellow conscripts, while more than half assessed their relationships with commanders positively.

Based on the survey results of conscripts who completed their conscript service in 2021–2022, a number of articles were prepared and published in the journal Occasional Papers. The articles were published in Estonian. Topics of the articles were the following:

Kasearu, K. and Tooding, L-M. (2023). The role of the service unit in the development of physical capability and fitness during conscription. K. Kasearu, A. Saumets (Eds.). Occasional Papers, 16, 76–107.

Kivirähk, J. (2023). Attitudes of Russian-speaking conscripts towards national defense and conscription. K. Kasearu, A. Saumets (Eds.). Occasional Papers, 16, 56–75.

Leete, U., Lillemäe, E. (2023). The relationship between conscripts' service motivation and psychological hardiness. K. Kasearu, A. Saumets (Eds.). Occasional Papers, 16, 43–55.

Lillemäe, E. and Tulk, M-L. (2023). Perceptions of conscription and their change: text mining of an ethnographic study. K. Kasearu, A. Saumets (Eds.). Occasional Papers, 16, 24–42.

Trumm, A. (2023). Conscripts’ attitudes toward the use of unmanned ground vehicles. K. Kasearu, A. Saumets (Eds.). Occasional Papers, 16, 108–123.

Truusa, T-T. (2023). Student theses based on data from the complex survey of conscripts at the University of Tartu Institute of Social Sciences and the Estonian Military Academy over the years. K. Kasearu, A. Saumets (Eds.). Occasional Papers, 16, 9–23.

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National Defence Education and Different Aspects of Conscription During the Pandemic

Summary of the 2020/2021 complex survey

The surveys conducted among the conscripts who began service in 2020 were primarily focused on national defence education with an emphasis on the topics covered in the course, and on the different aspects of conscription during the pandemic. It was found that completing the national defence education course helped ensure that conscripts were better informed, and that, on average, the conscripts who had completed the course held more positive attitudes toward conscription. The proportion of those who complete the national defence education course has increased year by year. The main reasons for not completing the course are lack of interest and the absence of an opportunity to take the course at school.

In national defence education, conscripts value practical content the most: weapons training, first aid skills, topography, and orientation skills. Conscripts who completed the national defence course at school are more satisfied with conscription: they more often gain the rank of a junior non-commissioned officer, show greater interest towards a career in the Defence Forces, and are more willing to participate in reservist training exercises in the future compared to those who did not take the course.

The limited opportunities to leave the military base and obligation to stay isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic created stress and tensions among conscripts with both peers and professional servicemembers. It was also challenging for the armed forces to find alternative motivation sources for conscripts, as short-term leaves had previously been the primary means of rewarding and motivating them.

Conscript advancement in the service

Summary of the 2019/2020 complex survey

The survey results show that satisfaction with conscription has grown each year and that the conscripts are most satisfied with the interpersonal relationships between conscripts, living conditions and sporting opportunities, but also relationships with their superiors. Satisfaction with conscription varies depending on location and is linked to the conscript’s career in the service. Conscript advancement in the service is also the main focus of the annual report for the 2019 intake. The survey results show that prior leadership experience increases the desire to participate in the course for junior non-commissioned officers (NAK), as does prior participation in organisations related to national defence or internal security. Meanwhile, conscripts who lacked a preference for NAK at the beginning of their conscription but rose to the rank of junior sergeant during their service began to place more value on leadership skills, teaching of social skills during conscription and to better understand the role of conscription in training reserve units for mobilisation as a result of their training. Conscripts who entered service directly after school are more likely to continue developing leadership skills in comparison to conscripts who had previously participated in the job market.

Problematic relationships in conscription

Summary of the 2018/2019 complex survey

When surveying the 2018 intake, more attention was directed to problematic relationships and their effect on the conscription experience. The survey results showed that relationship problems in conscription are multifaceted and that a certain amount of teasing and hazing is a part of adapting to the service and not always interpreted as a problem. When examining the connections between personality traits and experiencing problematic relationships, it was found that both conscripts who tend towards neuroticism as well as those who are more extroverted experience problematic relationships more, and in a more acute manner. However, having a previously positive attitude toward military service was found to protect the conscript from finding themselves in problematic situations during conscription. When entering service, the conscripts have higher expectations when compared to the goals they achieve during conscription, and the conscript’s motivation to contribute to the service is intertwined with their perception of how their contribution and person are valued by their superiors. The surveyed aspirants estimated that they could manage their platoons well, less than half mentioned having some issues with their subordinates that required intervention from their superiors. However, not all interpersonal issues between conscripts may be brought to the attention of aspirants or superiors, so there is no direct correlation between the aspirant’s evaluation of the unity of the platoon and the number of problematic relationships. From the conscript’s point of view, the conscription will be successfully completed if their previously positive attitude is supported and maintained throughout, which is impacted by the combined factors of their general attitude toward the Defence Forces, their personal preparedness to contribute and their expectations regarding the skills and knowledge they would obtain during military service.

Leadership, motivation and physical well-being factors on an individual and group level

Summary of the 2017/2018 complex survey

The analysis of the survey of the 2017 intake was focused on leadership and conscript motivation. To summarise, it can be said that satisfaction with military service at the end of conscription is dependent on the efficacy of the leadership, but also its trustworthiness and inclusivity. The more trusting, inclusive and efficient the superior’s leadership style is considered to be, the higher the conscript’s internal and external motivation will be at the end of the conscription. Prior experience in the defence field was found to support the internal motivation to serve, and conscripts who had enlisted as an expression of free will to contribute to national defence were found to be more satisfied when leaving the conscription. Thus, experience in the field of defence prior to conscription and the attitudes based thereon are also an important factor in conscript satisfaction with military service, in addition to leadership style.

Changes in conscript attitudes, health and behaviour during conscription

Summary of the 2016/2017 pilot complex survey

A longitudinal analysis of the data from the 2016 cycle of the complex survey brings forth important facets in the conscripts’ profile (attitudes, health), its changes and the conscription experience. By interpreting the findings of the study as a comprehensive chain, the following generalisation can be made: the attitudes and preparedness for service among conscripts vary to a large degree. A positive attitude and behavioural predisposition which support serving will ensure better coping with conscription (lower discharge rate, more desire for active duty), higher satisfaction with service, which in turn is linked to the reputation of the Estonian Defence Forces as well as relationships with superiors and fellow conscripts. The best time to enter service is thus directly after high school, when youths are at the peak of health and physical capability; also, the motivation and desire to undergo conscription are higher in that stage of live when compared to later years when involvement in the civil sphere (family, professional duties, career) is greater.