The Effects of Innovative Leadership and Infrastructure on Military Personnel Performance: The Mediating Roles of Motivation and Competence at Battalion Headquarters

Abstract

Changes in operational demands and the complexity of tasks in military environments require soldiers to possess adaptive, competent, and professional performance. This study aims to analyze the effect of innovative leadership and infrastructure on soldiers’ performance, with motivation and competence as intervening variables, at the Headquarters of the 18th Field Artillery Battalion (Yonarmed) Komposit Buritkang Labanan, Berau Regency. The study employed a quantitative approach with a sample of 210 soldiers. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling based on Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS).
 The results indicate that innovative leadership and infrastructure have a positive and significant effect on soldiers’ motivation and competence. Motivation was found to positively and significantly influence soldiers’ performance, while competence showed a positive but relatively weaker effect. Furthermore, the mediation pathway through motivation was significant, strengthening the effect of innovative leadership and infrastructure on performance, whereas the mediation through competence was not significant. These findings highlight that soldiers’ performance is more strongly influenced by innovative leadership, adequate infrastructure, and motivation than by competence alone.