<![CDATA[This study examined the relationships among assignment experience, risk-taking propensity, achievement motivation, and moral reasoning in Indonesian Navy officers. This topic is important because professional experience alone does not guarantee ethical maturity in hierarchical organizations. The study aimed to test whether assignment experience and risk-taking affected moral reasoning directly, or indirectly through achievement motivation. A quantitative survey was conducted with 398 officers aged 35–42 years. Moral reasoning was measured using the Defining Issues Test (DIT), while achievement motivation and risk-taking were measured using adapted Likert scales. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Descriptive results showed that the largest proportion of officers were at Stage 5 social contract orientation (22.9%), and 9.5% reached Stage 6 universal ethical principles. Structural analysis showed that assignment experience significantly predicted achievement motivation (p < .001; C.R. = 7.758), and risk-taking also significantly predicted achievement motivation (p = .002; C.R. = 3.109). However, neither variable directly predicted moral reasoning (p = .062 and p = .784, respectively). Achievement motivation had a significant positive effect on moral reasoning (p = .004; C.R. = 2.851) and fully mediated the relationships between the independent variables and moral reasoning. The model demonstrated good fit indices (Chi-square/df = 1.829; GFI = .942; CFI = .952; RMSEA = .046). These findings suggest that ethical development in military settings depends more on value-based achievement motivation than on experience alone. This highlights the need for leadership training that combines performance orientation with ethical reflection.]]>
