This research aims to identify the impact of the development of perseverance and financial education on the performance of students in the military context who are undergoing training to become officers in the Colombian Army at the “General José María Córdova” Military Cadet School (ESMIC). The research adopts a quantitative approach and was conducted through the use of a primary data collection tool administered to students in the logistics management program at ESMIC, within the basic training cycle that promotes sustainability in VUCA environments. The main outcome of this study includes a set of factors that affect the well-being of military personnel in their organic duties, as well as a knowledge gap in the study of aspects such as financial education and perseverance in VUCA environments, such as the military setting.
Top1. Problem Statement
The inherent nature of military engagement predisposes individuals to frequent exposure to potentially traumatic circumstances and a demanding work environment. This situation is exacerbated when individuals actively participate in armed conflicts or wars. The recent history of Colombia has been significantly marked by internal armed conflict, resulting in widespread physical and mental violence that affects all stakeholders, particularly the military forces (González L. et al., 2010). It is crucial to emphasize that the repercussions of armed conflict in Colombia manifest in various dimensions. These manifestations are not limited solely to social or economic frameworks but must also be thoroughly examined from the individual perspective of military personnel and their implications at the institutional level, such as desertion.
In this context, both military personnel and their families are exposed to situations that pose significant resolution challenges. These challenges can be better addressed by developing and strengthening certain competencies from the outset of initial military training and it is worth noting that in the context of military education, the main objective is to ensure the long-term retention of individuals (González C. et al., 2014).
According to the work conducted by Duckworth et al. (2007), it has been demonstrated that aspects such as the development of intellectual talent and the achievement of professional domains serve as predictors of future success. It is noteworthy that in this context, aspects such as perseverance and passion can define the maintenance of long-term goals, which, in the case of military training processes, play a pivotal role in sustainability, financial well-being, and the welfare of military families. The instruments developed by Duckworth & Quinn (2009a), reveal significant associations with the achievement of educational objectives and reduced career changes. In the military domain, this primarily means that students in basic training cycles are encouraged to complete their training, given the demands, both military and academic, of supplementary education.
It is important to clarify that in the analysis conducted by Sharma & Singh (2020), there are impacts associated with the volatility that occurs in an unstable and unpredictably lasting situation, uncertainty, the lack of predictability of problems and events, complexity, the confusion of issues and chaos; and ambiguity, where the situation lacks precedents, and one must prepare to face the unknown. The ability to focus, emotions, and behavior, along with determination, play significant roles in achieving higher goals (Duckworth & Gross, 2014). Understanding how these two variables influence military training processes, especially in the military academy, is crucial for achieving long-term objectives. These characteristics need to be mastered in VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) contexts and have been examined by Wetzler et al. (2023). Their study revealed that determination, physical fitness tests, and entrance exam scores were significant predictors of performance outcomes in the academic, military, and physical domains.
Incorporating the exercise of perseverance (Bazley et al., 2021), which involves the act of sustained determination, and relating it to financial decisions, research and findings have demonstrated that the heterogeneity in portfolio choices among individuals may stem from differences in personality traits. This presents a potential mechanism through which long-term financial decisions of households can be enhanced. Notably, empirical studies conducted on military households (Henager, 2017) have established positive associations between financial knowledge, the presence of financial education, and higher scores in each of the composite indices of short-term financial behaviors. Furthermore, building on previous research in the domain of the development of applications or technological tools, these developments have shown a propensity to elicit intentions to save more, spend less, and increase income, consequently leading to significant improvements in overall financial and savings behaviors (Amagir et al., 2022).