Full PhD dissertation of Jill L. Lazo. AbstractDespite increasing attention to public service motivation (PSM) in organizationalresearch, there is a notable absence of studies examining the experiences of women inmilitary contexts, particularly within the United States Coast Guard (USCG). Thisgeneric qualitative study, grounded in PSM theory, explored why junior-level women inthe USCG prematurely exited military service. While existing research on PSM andwomen is limited and none specifically focused on women in the USCG, this studyaddressed that gap by interviewing 16 junior-level women who had separated from theUSCG between four and eight years prior. The purpose of the study was to understandthe experiences, perceived barriers, and facilitators of military service among thesewomen. The research questions examined their lived experiences, recurringcharacteristics of career truncation, and commonalities in their reasons for separation.Findings revealed that while PSM remained intact for most participants, their decisions toleave were influenced by factors such as betrayal trauma, ethical burden, and invisibleservice. Notably, 14 of the 16 participants did not experience a change in public servicemotivation, as the majority pursued PSM-related careers post-service. Additionalrecurring themes included toxic leadership, lack of support, and inadequate orincompetent leadership. This in-depth qualitative inquiry offers an alternativeunderstanding of career truncation among junior-level women in the USCG. The study'simplications for positive social change include informing retention strategies andproviding insights for scholars, military leaders, and public institutions regarding PSM-related phenomena in service environments.