Soldier Quality of Life (Operational) and Readiness at Contingency Base Camps: Insights From Qualitative Interviews

Abstract

This report describes the results of a qualitative research study on the relationship between expeditionary base camp capabilities and Soldier readiness. Base camps provide an essential platform for restoring and sustaining readiness during extended operations. However, the Army lacks data on the specific base camp capabilities that keep Soldiers ready across cognitive, physical, social, and emotional (CPSE) domains. To address this gap, the research team interviewed 31 active duty Soldiers from Fort Drum, NY and Fort Bliss, TX. A majority of the Soldiers had deployed overseas within the past four years and primarily lived on base camps housing fewer than 1000 personnel during their most recent deployment. During the interviews, Soldiers first provided detailed descriptions of the camp capabilities and conditions they experienced while deployed. They were then asked to identify instances in which camp conditions led to impacts on their CPSE readiness domains. Soldiers rated each impact as mild, moderate, or severe, and placed index cards on a visual deployment timeline to indicate when each impact occurred. Data were coded and analyzed to identify the key connections between camp conditions and Soldier readiness. Results indicated that camp capabilities (and the lack thereof) have a profound effect on Soldiers. In particular, emotional state and social factors (e.g. group cohesion) can become compromised during extended deployments to austere base camps. Insights gained from this work can inform the development of base camp doctrine and materiel system design. In addition, these data are guiding the development of a model that illustrates the links between base camp capabilities and readiness.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 13, 2017
Accession Number
AD1030300

Entities

People

  • Caelli Craig
  • Jason Augustyn
  • Justine Federici

Organizations

  • United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan
  • Army Personnel
  • Cohesion
  • Deployment
  • Food
  • Group Dynamics
  • Infection
  • Internet
  • Leadership
  • Meals
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Quality Of Life
  • Social Psychology
  • Standards
  • Staphylococcal Infections
  • Wound Infections

Readers

  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.