Accession Number:

ADA288855

Title:

Commanders' Priorities and Psychological Readiness.

Descriptive Note:

Research rept.,

Corporate Author:

WALTER REED ARMY INST OF RESEARCH WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Bartone, Paul T.

Report Date:

1994-06-30

Pagination or Media Count:

3.0

Abstract:

This brief research report summarizes the results of a study by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research WRAIR on commanders priorities and psychological readiness. The study confirms some conventional wisdom regarding leadership that leaders beliefs and values can influence subordinates psychological readiness for combat. The study examined 51 Army company-sized units. Results show that leader emphasis on soldier morale or human dimensions issues is positively related to soldier readiness indicators. Company commanders who place a high emphasis on soldier morale issues have soldiers in their units who score significantly higher on a range of psychological readiness indicators. The research concludes that leaders values are related to the mental health and readiness of their subordinates. Leader beliefs appear to influence the perceptions and behaviors of subordinates, which in turn affect overall unit readiness.

Descriptors:

• *OPERATIONAL READINESS
• *ATTITUDES(PSYCHOLOGY)
• *MORALE
• *MILITARY COMMANDERS
• LEADERSHIP
• ARMY PERSONNEL
• COMPANY LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS
• MENTAL HEALTH
• VALUE
• INDICATORS

Subject Categories:

• Psychology
• Military Forces and Organizations

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE