The purpose of this study is to analyze structural relationship between family health,
self-esteem, social support perceived by young drafted marines and adaptation to military
life. To accomplish the study purpose, a self-reporting survey was made on 635 marines
who were stationed in units above the marine brigade. The major findings of th study
are as follows: It was found that family health perceived by young soldiers influenced
self-esteem, social support and adaptation to military life both directly and indirectly,
while self-esteem, social support affect adaptation to military life positively. Besides, social
support was found to have the greatest effect on adaptation to military life as well as a
positive mediating effect in the relations between family health and adaptation to military
life, and self-esteem and adaptation to military life. All these findings imply that a program
should be developed and implemented to increase self-esteem together with active support
from peers and seniors to enhance the level of adaptation to military life of the soldiers