Social learning and career navigation in the U.S. Military: the personal experiences, observations and socializations of servicewomen

Purpose This paper aims to explore the interactions of social learning and career navigation and their associated implications for women in military service. Design/methodology/approach Social learning theory (Bandura, 1977) exposes and aids in understanding the ability of an organization’s members to reconcile their personal experiences, socialization and observations. Drawn from a larger qualitative study of gender in the US military, this study highlights the US military’s rigorous socialization practices and the reliance on communal memory and social learning including matters pertaining to gender including career navigation. Findings Military servicewomen use these processes to learn military culture, acceptable behaviors, institutional norms and organizational realities for career navigation reflective of gender. Originality/value This article presents a novel exploration of gender in the military as it pertains to social learning and career progression.