Women Content in Units: Force Development Test (MAX WAC)
Abstract
The MAX-WAC research was designed to provide empirical data on the effect of increasing the proportion of women--up to 35%--in noncombat Army units in the field. In fall 1976-spring 1977, the performance of 40 combat support and combat service support companies was field tested during the standard operational Army Training and Evaluation Programs (ARTEP). ARTEPs are recently developed, performance-based, 3-day field exercises designed to indicate training needs. Tasks were selected, standard scenarios prepared, and scoring systems added for the MAX-WAC tests. Eight companies were selected from each of five types of units: medical, maintenance, military police, transportation, and signal. Of the eight, 5 calibration companies with existing women were tested once to establish an expected scoring range and one company was tested twice to control for the effect of a later test. In the 2 experimental companies of each type (a total of 10), the percentage of women was controlled at 0% and 15% in the initial test and increased to 15% and 35% respectively in a 2nd test 6 months later. Collateral questionnaires gathered background and opinion data from more than 6,000 officers and troops. ARTEP performance data indicate that the number of women, up to the percentages studied, did not affect unit ability to perform TOE missions as measured in the field. Officers perceived that leadership, training, morale, and personnel turbulence affect unit performance much more than proportion of women. Women were readily accepted, particularly when commanders accepted them.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 03, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA050022
Entities
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences