Soldier Team Development

  1. We are concerned with soldier/team development because:

    1. Soldiers are:

      1. Volunteers

      2. From every segment of society

      3. Have certain expectations:

        1. Money

        2. Rank

        3. Patriotism

        4. Job security

        5. Self-esteem

        6. Travel the world

        7. Education

        8. Leave home

        9. Etc.

    2. The Army:

      1. Has a range of specialties

      2. Variety of weapons and people

  2. Teamwork, leadership and development are critical aspects of the Army.

  3. A Team is a group of individuals banded together along organizational lines for the purpose of accomplishing a certain goal. I.e. school, business, industry, military, etc.

  4. Types of teams or groups.

    1. Functional teams – a group that serves a function

    2. Task groups – problem-solving groups typically disband after the task is completed.

    3. Clique – groups of individuals who band together informally, with similar interests.

    4. Primary and secondary groups

      1. Primary groups are those that form the overarching structures

      2. Secondary groups are smaller groups that are contained within the larger

    5. Membership and reference groups – one is part of a membership group; whereas the reference group is a group that one identifies with.

  5. Common military organizations

    1. Rifle platoon – functional group

    2. Range detail – task group

    3. Fire team – functional/secondary group

  6. People join groups because:

    1. They need to belong

    2. They enjoy certain group activities

    3. They are attracted to a certain type of people

    4. As a means to an end

  7. The socialization process

    1. How do individual soldiers become members of a team?

      1. Strip the individual

      2. Give him/her a uniform

      3. Attitude adjustment

    2. Goals of process:

      1. Commitment to the team

      2. Internalization of team values

      3. Innovative input to mission accomplishment

      4. Psychological contract between the soldier and the team

    3. Three phases of the socialization process

      1. Anticipation – I think it will be like this.

      2. Encounter – I met the thing.

      3. Change and acquisition – I start to acquire the team’s goals and values

  8. Three stages of team development

    1. Formation and reception/orientation

    2. Development – minimize/avoid anything other than the team mission

    3. Sustainment

  9. Leader’s roles in the socialization process

    1. Create supportive group expectations – let them know what is expected.

    2. Provide rewarding jobs

    3. Clarify the soldiers role in the team

    4. Express leader’s expectance

    5. Establish social support system

    6. Create initiation activities

  10. Reception letter – should provide:

    1. Tentative duties

    2. Sponsor

    3. Assistance

  11. Orientation should provide

    1. Unit values and standards

    2. Unit mission and goals

    3. Unit Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

    4. Unit heritage

  12. Leader actions: development stage

    1. Listening

    2. Establish clear lines of authority

    3. Develop goals

  13. Development

    1. Initially

      1. Soldiers question and resist

      2. Arguments due to minor issues

      3. Tension between family and unit

    2. Then

      1. Trust begins

      2. Fear and distrust disappear

      3. More relaxed conversation

      4. Information passed more rapidly and accurately

    3. Other

      1. Cohesion develops

      2. Soldiers become willing to accept team goals

      3. Confirmed members of the team develop self-evaluation procedures

  14. Training principles development stage

    1. Train as a unit

    2. Train for combat

    3. Build pride in accomplishment

    4. Develop self-evaluation process

  15. Leader’s actions: sustainment stage

    1. Deal with change

    2. Reassess goals and priorities

    3. Focus on teamwork

    4. Focus on training

    5. Respond to soldiers concerns

    6. Conduct activities