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The Effect of High-Performing Mentors on Junior Officer Promotion in the US Army

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  • David S. Lyle
  • John Z. Smith

Abstract

Military assignment mechanisms provide a unique opportunity to estimate the impact of high-performing mentors on job advancement of their subordinates. Combining US Army administrative data with officer evaluation reports, we find that high-performing mentors positively affect early junior officer promotion and that early promotion probabilities rise as the duration of the high-quality mentorship increases. These effects are largest for high-ability protégés. Junior officers who were exposed to multiple high-performing mentors did not experience an additional increase in promotion rates.

Suggested Citation

  • David S. Lyle & John Z. Smith, 2014. "The Effect of High-Performing Mentors on Junior Officer Promotion in the US Army," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 32(2), pages 229-258.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/673372
    DOI: 10.1086/673372
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    Cited by:

    1. Eyring, Henry & Narayanan, V.G., 2018. "Performance effects of setting a high reference point for peer-performance comparison," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 86732, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Dario Cestau & Dennis Epple & Richard Romano & Holger Sieg & Carl Wojtaszek, 2020. "College Achievement and Attainment Gaps: Evidence from West Point Cadets," NBER Working Papers 27162, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Vera Rocha & Mirjam van Praag, 2020. "Mind the gap: The role of gender in entrepreneurial career choice and social influence by founders," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(5), pages 841-866, May.
    4. Matthew F. Cancian & Michael W. Klein, 2015. "Military Officer Quality in the All-Volunteer Force," NBER Working Papers 21372, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Hardt, David & Nagler, Markus & Rincke, Johannes, 2022. "Can peer mentoring improve online teaching effectiveness? An RCT during the COVID-19 pandemic," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Arai, Natsuki & 荒井, 夏來 & Nakazawa, Nobuhiko & 中澤, 伸彦, 2021. "Does Working with a Future Executive Make Junior Employees More Likely to Be Promoted ?," Discussion Papers 2021-01, Graduate School of Economics, Hitotsubashi University.
    7. Carter, Susan Payne & Dudley, Whitney & Lyle, David S. & Smith, John Z., 2019. "Who's the Boss? The effect of strong leadership on employee turnover," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 323-343.
    8. Brian J. Miller & William L. Skimmyhorn, 2018. "I Want You! Expanding College Access through Targeted Recruiting Efforts," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 13(3), pages 395-418, Summer.
    9. Morrison, Geoffrey M. & Lin Lawell, C.-Y. Cynthia, 2016. "Driving in force: The influence of workplace peers on commuting decisions on U.S. military bases," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 22-40.
    10. Jason J Sandvik & Richard E Saouma & Nathan T Seegert & Christopher T Stanton, 2020. "Workplace Knowledge Flows," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 135(3), pages 1635-1680.
    11. Albert, Aaron, 2021. "The effect of randomly assigned advisor’s department on student outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    12. Buechel, Berno & Mechtenberg, Lydia & Petersen, Julia, 2018. "If I can do it, so can you! Peer effects on perseverance," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 301-314.

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