2003 IMTA Proceedings - International Military Testing Association

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Table 4. Fit indices of the 3 models
Models df χ2 RMSEA SRMR GFI NNFI CFI
Model for NSF 182 475.23 0.061 0.063 0.90 0.90 0.92
Model for Regulars 182 414.36 0.059 0.050 0.91 0.92 0.93
Model for NSmen 182 535.48 0.063 0.055 0.91 0.91 0.92
DISCUSSION
The findings obtained supported the hypothesized relationships. In each of the groups,
NSF, Regulars and NSmen groups, the respondents’ commitment to defend Singapore was
strongly and positively related to their support for National Service. This suggests that the
respondents could have perceived National Service as a tangible means to express their
commitment to the country’s defence. Commitment to defend Singapore in times of war was in
turn strongly and positively related to one’s sense of belonging, indicating that one who was
emotionally attached to the country would be committed to defending the country in times of
war.
In all groups, sense of belonging was also found to be moderately and positively related
to perceived security and defensibility of the country, with defensibility of the country being
more strongly related as compared to perceived security. This reinforces the importance for a
strong perception that the country is defensible, as sense of belonging seems not only to be
affect-based, but also to be cognitively-based. As hypothesized, there was a weak and positive
relationship between defensibility of the country and support for National Service. Using
Vroom’s (1964) expectancy theory of motivation, these findings suggest that one’s support for
the benefits of military conscription and being involved tends to be pragmatic, whereby support
for national service is positively influenced by the perception that the country can be defended
and their efforts would not be in vain.
In all groups, confidence in the SAF was directly related to the perceived security of the
country and the defensibility of the country. The stronger correlation between confidence in the
armed forces and defensibility of the country as compared to perceived security of the country
suggests that, given their personal involvement in the defence of the country, the servicemen
could have been more likely to perceive the armed forces as having a greater role in the security
and defence of Singapore.
In conclusion, this study reinforces the importance of building on one’s sense of
belonging to the country and perception of security and defensibility, so as to achieve the
population’s commitment to national defence and support for national service.
45 th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association
Pensacola, Florida, 3-6 November 2003