Year 1 Assessment of the Unit Focused Stability Manning System
Abstract
The U.S. Army Alaska's 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) is currently serving as the test unit for implementation of the newly developed Unit Focused Stability (UFS) manning system. Under UFS, combat forces are formed, trained, and deployed as intact units, with resulting stability and opportunity for accretive training serving to increase combat skills and cohesion above levels normally achieved in conventionally manned units. During the 172nd SBCT's anticipated operational cycle, the impact of UFS will be formatively assessed to determine (a) the long-term impact of personnel stabilization on unit cohesion, (b) factors/conditions that enhance or detract from this cohesion, and (c) stabilization-related lessons learned for improving future UFS implementation. Assessment methods will include the use of surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions. Results from this first year revealed robust levels of cohesion and unit climate variables in spite of widespread concerns that UFS might negatively impact senior NCO and junior officer career progression. Major recommendations for improvement of UFS implementation included: (a) proactive distribution of comprehensive UFS ground rules, and (b) mitigation of UFS' perceived negative impact on career progression. Next year's assessment efforts will focus on platoon-level measurement of personnel external (i.e., unprogrammed losses/gains) and internal (i.e., duty position changes) turbulence and determination of the relation between turbulence and unit cohesion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA428049
Entities
People
- Joseph D. Hagman
- Monte D. Smith