The Effects of Battalion Staff Stabilization on Individual and Unit Performance: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract

This research explored the feasibility and desirability of extending the time field-grade officers spend in battalions as either XO or S3 (and, thus, as part of a command team) from 12 to 24 months. A combination of surveys and interviews with brigade-, battalion-, and company-level leaders from seven "stabilized" battalions (i.e., XO, S3, CDR, and CSM serving together 24 months) and seven similar "non-stabilized" battalions was conducted. The relationships between extended tenure of battalion staff and measures of individual and unit performance, cohesion, communication, and command climate were investigated. Results showed that stabilization of battalion staff was not possible to maintain in a majority of the cases (six of the seven units). Although improvements in leadership skills and abilities were associated with longer command team tenure, the results are those of a preliminary investigation and not intended for generalization to the Army-at-large.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA387969

Entities

People

  • D. B. Bell
  • Lynn M. Milan
  • R. C. Bullis
  • Ronald B. Tiggle
  • Sharon D. Ardison

Organizations

  • U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artillery
  • Cohesion
  • Data Analysis
  • Electronic Mail
  • Families (Human)
  • Field Grade Officers
  • Information Science
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Leadership
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Research
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • Surveys
  • Training

Readers

  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Military Science
  • Organizational Psychology.