The article deals with the theoretical substantiation of the component structure of cadets’ attitude to service activity and a classification of the socio‑psychological factors that determine it. Subjective mediation mechanisms of the military educational institution total environment influence are addressed, too. The following methods have been applied: analysis of scientific literature on the problem of attitude, systematization of approaches to its structure, generalization of empirical data on the factors shaping cadets’ attitude, modeling method for constructing the component structure and classification of factors, and historical‑genetic method in examining the evolution of the concept of “attitude” in Russian psychology. As a result of the study, a four‑component structure of attitude including cognitive, emotional‑evaluative, behavioral, value‑meaning components is proposed. Groups of factors are identified, among them are as follows: institutional, group, personal, and situational‑dynamic. The role of the military educational institution as a total institution (including isolation, unification, total control) in which processes of self‑awareness transformation are triggered is shown. The key importance of internal position (L.I. Bozhovich), adaptive readiness (M.V. Grigorieva) and military identity (R.M. Shamionov) as mediating links between the environment and attitude has been substantiated. Based on the analysis of the available empirical data, three typical scenarios of attitude formation have been considered. They include formal discipline with internal rejection, compensatory activity, and hidden resistance.