The Mediating Role of Job Embeddedness between Transformational Leadership and Turnover intention: Korean Air Force Pilots Case using Mix-Methods Approach

Transformational leadership has consistently been recognized in the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) as a critical factor for ensuring pilot safety and effective mission accomplishment. Although transformational leadership is associated with positive outcomes—such as enhanced motivation and creative problem-solving—the turnover rate among ROKAF pilots remains high, posing significant challenges to organizational stability. Given that military pilots routinely encounter extreme and hazardous situations, it is essential to examine turnover through a lens that accounts for these unique occupational characteristics. This study investigates the impact of transformational leadership on turnover intention among Air Force pilots, focusing on the mediating role of job embeddedness. Specifically, it explores whether job embeddedness acts as a key mechanism through which transformational leadership mitigates turnover intention in the high-risk context of military aviation. A sequential mixed-methods approach was adopted. In the qualitative phase, in-depth interviews were conducted with six former and seven current Air Force pilots, utilizing a person-centered approach to capture nuanced perspectives on turnover intention. Insights from the qualitative data informed the development of key variables and measurement instruments for the quantitative phase. For the quantitative analysis, structured survey data were collected from 40 active-duty squadron pilots. Mediation analyses were performed using the SPSS Process Macro, and model fit was evaluated with AMOS to ensure the robustness of the findings. The results confirm that job embeddedness mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and turnover intention. However, the hypothesized moderating effect of extreme situational factors was not supported. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening job embeddedness through targeted leadership development initiatives as an effective strategy for reducing turnover among Air Force pilots.