A Literature Review on the Employability and the Effects of Ex-Military Personnel in Corporate Boardrooms

Abstract

Military Personnel throughout the globe, especially at the Officer level are known to be selected on a very stringent basis for military service based on specific personality traits that can be groomed by the Military for its own purpose. Subsequently, they are made to go through series of well-designed training programmes that grooms them into world-class leaders. Their training is known to continue throughout their service careers. However, the skills, qualities, and habits those officers are known to gain through their experiences whether in combat or in normal regimental life are something that no other institution in the world may be able to inculcate. Thus after the service careers, their employability within the corporate world is considered to be invaluable. The paper reviews the literature available to correlate the association between military and the corporate world. Previous researchers are reviewed is to discuss various skill sets/ qualities that are desirable to succeed in the corporate world such as communication skills, offbeat thinking, optimism, adaptability etc. vis-s-vis a SWOT analysis of the personality traits of ex-military personnel as documented by researchers. Finally, with the help of previously researched work the paper highlights as to what do the firms achieve in employing military personnel or why and when do they prefer hiring ex-military personnel for their top jobs.

Keywords: Ex- Military Personnel, Board room.