Commanders' Priorities and Psychological Readiness

Abstract

This is a report on a secondary analysis of survey data to assess relationships between commanders' priorities and the psychological readiness of their units. The data were taken from two unrelated surveys - one of U.S. Army company commanders and the other of soldiers in those officers' units. Results indicated that almost all commanders put the highest priority on development of combat skills. Soldiers in units commanded by officers who also accorded high priority to human dimensions were more confident, committed, vertically bonded, psychologically healthy; and the married soldiers were more satisfied with their military and family lives than those in units whose commanders did not put high priority on human dimensions. This study is significant not only for its findings but also because it demonstrates the feasibility of using surveys to provide empirical information about associations between leaders' values and the psychological readiness of their subordinates.