The paper provides an overview of high school seniors' views of the military as an institution, and also as a prospective work role. Data were obtained from the Monitoring the Future project, an ongoing study of high school seniors conducted by the Institute for Social Research. Surveys were mailed to a national sampling of high school senior classes from 1976 through 1980. Students were asked to indicate their views concerning (1) their own possible service in the armed forces; (2) the nature of the job opportunities provided in the military; (3) the military contrasted with other national institutions; and (4) the needs and uses for military power. Findings include the following. Seniors' views about the military as an institution have been most favorable during the past five years, with only a small minority indicating that military influence and spending are too high. However, very few seniors view military service as an acceptable or desirable work setting, and the proportion who do has been shrinking since 1976. There has also been some decline in perceptions that military service provides good opportunities for personal fulfillment or educational advancement, whereas perceptions of discrimination against women in the military have risen sharply. (Author/RM)