Abstract:    Helping veterans to actively participate in the practice of "mass entrepreneurship and innovation" is an effective way to realize their own value and stimulate the vitality of social and economic development. Based on the imprinting theory, this paper used the Probit model to explore the influence of military experience on individual entrepreneurial choice and the motivation of veterans′ entrepreneurial behavior by taking the data of China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The results showed that: (1) military experience significantly increases the probability of entrepreneurship of veterans, and military experience has a significant positive impact on entrepreneurial income; (2) external motivation indicates that military experience can promote exservicemen to start businesses regardless of whether they are active or passive entrepreneurs, but the increase of initiative can further improve the possibility of entrepreneurship of veterans; (3) intrinsic motivation shows that competence does not significantly affect the entrepreneurial choices of veterans, while the higher life satisfaction will inhibit the choice of entrepreneurship of veterans; and (4) Family motivation indicates that, compared with financial support from family, family emotional support is more likely to increase the probability of veterans starting their own businesses. This study has broadened the research scope of military experience, enriched the relevant research on the motivation of entrepreneurship of veterans, and provided practical enlightenment for the society and family to support entrepreneurship of veterans.

Key words: military experience, entrepreneurial behavior, life satisfaction, intergenerational support, emotional support