The Effectiveness of a Behavioural Competency Module in Military Training: Insights into Professional Behaviour Development

Abstract

The lack of empirical evaluation of behavioural competency training within military organisations has created a knowledge gap about the actual effectiveness of training interventions in changing personnel behaviour . The purpose of this article is to assess the effectiveness of the Professional Behavioural Competency Module in improving the level of behavioural competency of Other Ranks personnel in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF). This research was quantitative and used a quasi experimental research design with 60 participants divided into treatment and control groups. The intervention consisted of a structured training module with five core elements: digital professionalism, adaptive leadership, psychological resilience, integrity and accountability, and regimental identity. Data were collected by questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale measuring four competency constructs that is knowledge, skills, attitude and values. The results revealed that the intervention significantly enhanced the participants’ competency level with the mean score increasing from 2.92 to 4.56. The paired-samples t-test analysis has further reaffirmed that the difference is statistically significant. Moreover, the differences between the treatment and control groups showed that the improvements achieved were actually the result of the introduction of the module, which increased the validity of the findings. Analysis at the construct level also showed improvements across all competency domains, with the greatest gains in knowledge and skills and the next largest in attitudes and values. Finally, the research suggests that a systematically developed Professional Behavioural Competency Module can significantly improve the competency levels of military personnel. The findings have important implications for the development of competency-based training within military organisations, and contribute to the strengthening of evidence-based approaches to military training.