| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Alvinius, Aida, Docent, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Staff Advisors in Military Context : A Qualitative Interview Study in a Swedish Military Staff
- 2019
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 9:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Military organizations have a long tradition of autonomy in relation to other groups. Most positions in military organizations, at least those at the higher levels, are reserved for military officers. However, given the increasing complexity of modern society, civilian specialists have become more common in high-level military staff contexts. The purpose of this study was, through an inductive approach, to gain a deeper understanding of the role of civilian and military advisors in a high-level military staff context. A grounded theory approach was used. The empirical material is based on 10 interviews with advisors in high-level military staffs, three of which were with women. The qualitative analysis resulted in a theoretical model that describes that the trustworthiness of advisors is established through two types of action-logics: (1) through the advisor’s individual strategies - that is, what the advisors themselves do and (2) through an “allowing” structure, which permits an increased freedom of action for advisors. Advisors' positions and skills are unique in a staff environment, which is important in a decision-making process. These two logics influence one another as well as the credibility of the advisor’s agenda. Research limitations/implications are the following: small sample, lack of representativeness, and lack of illumination of possible gender-related aspects. The suggested model may be valuable in military educational settings.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Alvinius, Aida, 1979-
(författare)
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The Inadequacy of Bureaucratic Organizations : Organizational Adaptation through Boundary Spanning in a Civil-Military Context
- 2012
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - Paris : Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 3:1, s. 1-23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Governmental bodies such as the Armed Forces are examples of bureaucratic organizations characterized by centralized hierarchical structure, rationality, stability, impersonal rules, clear boundaries, responsibility and authority. Critics claim that because of a rigid structure, organizations with a strict vertical hierarchy of authority do not function well in non-routine situations where creativity and flexibility are required. But hierarchy survives by incorporating elements that are not traditionally found in a classically bureaucratic structure. In the military context, liaison officers and military observers are examples of such elements, frequently operating with a high degree of independence between the boundaries of their own organization and its environment. The purpose of this study is to explore how bureaucratic, hierarchically structured organizations can function in a demanding and dynamic environment characterized by life and death situations? Twenty-one informants (mainly military officers) were interviewed. They had a variety of experiences and occupational roles in civil-military collaboration contexts. A grounded theory analysis of interview data shows that military organizations' adaptation to unpredictable environments can be empirically shown to be a balancing act between improvisation and flexibility on the one hand and the pursuit of structure and adherence to established hierarchical order on the other. For adaptation to be possible there must be actors (boundary spanners or links) to implement it, and meeting grounds (temporary organization) on which to work and get their act together.
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| 5. |
- Berg, Annika, et al.
(författare)
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Dissecting Gender Imbalance : A Horizontal Perspective on When Risk Matters for the Assignment of Women to UN Peacekeeping Missions
- 2016
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; :2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite efforts to improve the gender balance in UN peacekeeping missions, the overall proportion of female military peacekeepers is still low. This article focuses on the methodological challenges involved in examining gender balance in international missions. By bringing a horizontal analysis to bear on the proportion of women in UN peacekeeping missions, the study shows how different factors influence that proportion among contingent troops and military observers, respectively. Earlier research has pointed to the fact that the proportion of women is lower in high-risk missions because of the influence of military masculinities in assignments. The authors argue that when examining such a relationship, the different nature of the two groups - contingent troops and military observers, and how prone they are to combat and risk - must be considered and is best approached through a horizontally disaggregated line of analysis. The horizontal study outlined in this article confirms that such a relationship exists as regards contingent troops, but not among military observers. Its findings primarily show the relevance of a horizontally disaggregated analysis when examining factors that influence gender balance in international missions. Secondly, it suggests that other factors than the influence of military masculinities and the prevalence of mission risk also affect the proportion of women among military observers and similar groups in international missions. The authors conclude by stressing the need for future research to identify the factors that underpin assignment to different military functions, not least when it comes to servicewomen.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Engelkes, Torbjörn, et al.
(författare)
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Loyal to the end : Examining the meaning of loyalty among high-ranking military officers
- 2023
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 13:3, s. 936-953
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Organizations need co-workers who are committed to common goals and that are loyal to the core values of the organization.[1] The conscious fostering of organizational core values is seen as an important tool in creating loyal co-workers and hence an effective organization.[2] Professions with a strong vocational calling such as medicine (Kallin, 2010), the police (Ewin, 1990 ; Foust, 2018) or the military[3] have particular demands on loyalty to certain core values, and individuals are expected to adopt these as their own. However, organizational core values can be contradictive (Billig, 1988) and sometimes in conflict with the individual´s own core values which – when incompatible – can in turn cause severe moral stress and mental illness.[4] This implies a need for clarification about what is expected from members of an organization concerning the objectives and manifestations of core values. In terms of loyalty, the military profession is possibly one of the most demanding, expecting individuals to risk their own lives and to kill other human beings for the benefit of the organizational goals. However, since misplaced loyalty can cause destructive,[5] and unethical behaviour[6] with enormous consequences – especially in the military (Winslow, 1998) – there is a need to be clear about what kind of loyalty behaviour is constructive and vice versa. Although loyalty is a concept that seems to be defined in many different ways, the number of studies of loyalty and its meaning are quite limited - especially in military research.[7] The overall purpose of this study is to broaden understanding of the meaning of loyalty within the military. Because important core values of an organization are set – or strongly influenced[8] – by its leaders,[9] the aim of this study was to explore how high-ranking officers in the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) give meaning to their own personal experiences of loyalty and to describe possible common patterns within the participant group. [1] Wieseke, Alavi & Habel, 2014.[2] Berghaus & Cartagena, 2013.[3] Huntington, 1985 ; Moskos & Wood, 1988 ; Kirkhaug, 2009 ; Olsthoorn, 2011 ; Beard, 2014.[4] Molendijk, Kramer & Verweij, 2018.[5] Gabriel, 1982 ; Connor, 2010.)[6] Umphress & Bingham, 2011.[7] Olsthoorn, 2011 ; Connor, Andrews, Noack-Lundberg & Wadham, 2019.[8] Larsson, Haerem, Sjöberg, Alvinius & Bakken, 2007.[9] Fergusson & Milliman, 2008 ; Oh, Cho & Lim, 2018.
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| 8. |
- Engelkes, Torbjörn, et al.
(författare)
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Loyal to the End (?) : Examining the Meaning of Loyalty among High-Ranking Military Officers
- 2023
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 13:3, s. 936-953
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Loyalty is a desirable but possibly destructive virtue which is seen as an important trait in many contexts. In strongly vocational professions, loyalty to certain core values seems especially important. As senior leadership within an organization set the expectations of organizational behaviour, it is important to explore their perception of loyalty. The overall purpose of this study is to broaden understanding of the meaning of loyalty within the military by exploring how high-ranking officers in the Swedish Armed Forces give meaning to their own personal experiences of loyalty. Data was collected through nine interviews with senior military generals and admirals and was analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The results describe a strong normative virtue, creating a strong professional identity which at the same time gives rise to dilemmas and ambiguous choices. The most dilemmatic experience raised was between the norms of, on the one hand, being compliant and adaptable, and on the other, of questioning irrational decisions or opinions. The results were discussed in terms of contradictions or dilemmas concerning the individual´s choice of loyalties. This study contributes to a greater understanding of personal experiences concerning loyalty within a profession characterized by strong professional norms.
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| 9. |
- Fors Brandebo, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of IED attacks on leadership : Dealing with the invisible enemy
- 2012
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 2:3, Summer/Été
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of leadership in military operations characterized by the presence of critical incidents (IED attacks). Twenty-one Swedish soldiers and officers (ranking from soldier to colonel) who had experienced IED attacks in Afghanistan during the period 2005-2008 were interviewed, and their responses were analyzed according to grounded theory methodology. A model was developed according to which the essence of military leadership immediately following an IED attack could be summarized as recapturing control over self, the group and the task. The model also illuminates the importance of selected pre-existing conditions and the leader's appraisal/ sensemaking processes. Nine leadership acts of balance were identified, including balanced grief (self), balanced focus on emotional and functional recovery (group), and balanced handling of safety versus necessary risk-taking (task).
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Holmberg, Arita, 1974-, et al.
(författare)
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Developments in Civil-Military Relations : The Swedish Armed Forces Managing Legitimacy in a Post-Materialist Society
- 2018
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 8:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The functional and societal imperatives, considered to capture the status of civil-military relations, are developing in a complex process. In this article, we argue that the military institution is faced with developing, and in some cases new, political and social legitimacy demands, the consequences of which have not been sufficiently addressed in the literature. Sweden, considered highly post-materialist, is used as an empirical example since not only the social, but also the functional imperative have changed - the latter following the Russian occupation of Crimea. The authors analyze inductively what legitimacy demands the military institution identifies, and how it attempts to manage them. Three areas are found to be of importance : the ability to adapt to norms regarding public administration (including norms affecting effectiveness and values), managing diminished power over capabilities, and understanding how to be socially attractive. It is suggested that future research direct more attention at the challenges posed to civil-military relations by the post-materialist society, and the potentially contradictory legitimacy demands that follow from developments within the functional and societal spheres.
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| 13. |
- Jonsson, Emma, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Effective Recruitment of Military Women : Developing New Methods
- 2017
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; :4, s. 1-16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sweden is one of the most gender equal countries in the world, but this is not reflected in the representation of women in the Swedish Armed Forces. Women have increased in both numbers and proportion since the transformation to an all-volunteer force in 2010, but the gender distribution is still skewed and women tend to drop out of the selection process for basic military training to a greater extent than men. The 2014 White Paper emphasizes that the Swedish Armed Forces should actively work to increase the proportion of women at all levels in order to achieve a more even gender distribution. This article describes a project that aims to increase the proportion of women who start basic military training in the Swedish Armed Forces. The project aims to identify successful methods and activities that motivate women and optimize their chances of passing the admission test, and basic military training. Women who passed the first step in the selection process for basic military training were contacted by the project. Women who were contacted and participated in activities were positive, stayed longer in the selection process, and looked forward to beginning basic military training.
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| 14. |
- Linehagen, Frida, 1981-
(författare)
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Conforming One’s Conduct to Unwritten Rules : Experiences of Female Military Personnel in a Male-Dominated Organization
- 2018
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 8:1, s. 1-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Swedish Armed Forces have traditionally been exclusively male, and service in the cause of defending the country has until recently been the privilege of men. While the very first women entered the military 37 years ago, the military has so far failed to fully integrate women into the organization and promote gender equality. The object of this study is to probe servicewomen's meanings, identities, strategies and experiences in a male-dominated institution. For that purpose, a qualitative approach was chosen, and nine female members of the Swedish Armed Forces, from private to general, were interviewed. The rich empirical data on what it means and feels like today to serve as a female minority as part of unique culture emphasizing corporateness - on their attitudes, options, dilemmas, contradictions as well as the double binds imposed on them by the prevailing male orthodoxy - are analyzed and discussed in light of Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical concepts : cultural capital, habitus, masculine domination and symbolic violence.
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| 15. |
- Malmio, Irja, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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"In Some Situations You Have to Bang Your Head into the Wall in Order to Get Respected" : A Qualitative Study of Female Cadets’ Experiences whilst Studying at the Swedish Military Academy and Serving in the Swedish Armed Forces
- 2019
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 9:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- One important objective of the Swedish Armed Forces, as expressed in the plan for implementing gender mainstreaming from 2015 onwards, is to increase the number of women in the organization, especially in the higher ranks. Recruiting more women to the Officers’ Programme, while at the same time ensuring that women who have already enrolled as officers will remain in the military, are therefore of utter importance. This article is based on a qualitative study where six recent and present female cadets were interviewed focusing on their experiences of their time in preparing to become officers at the Swedish Military Academy as well as how they perceive a future career with in the Swedish Armed Forces. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the results from which three dimensions emerged : ambition, culture and visibility. Ambition relates to expectations before and during the education, personal grit, perceived demands and family planning. Culture covers traditions, personal treatment and jargon, idealizing of masculinity, as well as servicewomen’s adaptation strategies. The last dimension, visibility, derives from the way females are made visible in the form of “tokens”, and is enhanced through the recruitment and marketing campaigns of the Swedish Armed Forces where women are often singled out as the main focus. Women are made visible because of their sex, not for their achievements. The study suggests that the Swedish Armed Forces should reconsider their focus on women in their internal and external communication. Further suggestions include involving lower-ranking defence employees in the work related to implementing the value system, and seeing to it that its practical application is an integrated part of the education at the Officers’ Programme, while also introducing a mentorship programme for female cadets.
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| 16. |
- Ohlsson, Alicia, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Shadow structure within higher-level military staff : A qualitative study
- 2017
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 7:2, s. 1-20
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study's aim was to elucidate the role played by leadership in the relationship between informal organizational influencers and the formal organization in a military context. A qualitative study was conducted by interviewing eleven high-level military officers and analyzing the data according to the grounded theory method. The analysis resulted in an identification of a core variable : Organization Influencers, which are composed of two sub-core variables (Shadow Factors and Formal Factors) that interact with one another. Therefore challenges arise for the leader to balance varying shadow and formal factors for individuals, groups and the organization. Previously research has defined the shadow organisation as a negative force ; however, our results indicate that this is not always the case. This study contributes by mapping out specific shadow factors in relationship with formal factors of a military organization, along with pointing out that shadow factors can be beneficial forces for organisations if balanced appropriately by the leader.
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| 17. |
- Tomteberget, Dag Tommy, et al.
(författare)
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Interrelationship of daily uplifts, daily hassles, coping strategies and stress reactions over time among Norwegian military veterans
- 2020
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 10:2, s. 1-21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this research was to gain deeper understanding of how military personnel with a record of participation in international operations experience the interaction between daily uplifts, daily hassles, coping strategies and stress reactions over time. Interviews were conducted with 15 Norwegian veterans who were guests at the Norwegian Armed Forces Veteran Centre, who had served in different international military operations between 1978 and 2012. Using the grounded theory method, five time periods were identified showing evolving patterns. The theoretical model developed showed that over time, the veterans could be categorized in four sub-groups according to how their everyday lives were affected by daily uplifts, daily hassles and different coping strategies. The research identified several factors which immediately, and over time, can evolve in such a way they lead to stress reactions and PTSD. Mentionable factors are training and education of non-combatant personnel, lack of follow-up, the duality of pride and deprivation of cohesion after duty. Identifying these factors is important for future development of educational systems before deployment and for better follow-up systems afterwards.
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| 18. |
- Wallenius, Claes, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
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Decision-making in a military staff context : A qualitative study on norms, challenges and difficulties
- 2020
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 10:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Outcomes of leadership are traditionally attributed to the leader's individual characteristics and leadership style. One aspect that has been less visible in leadership models is how the decision-making process affects perception of leadership quality. Another aspect that probably exerts an impact is the difficulty level of the decisions, how they affect subordinates and the organization. The purpose of this study is to obtain a deeper understanding of decision challenges in relation to the strategic leadership level. Data were collected through qualitative, semi-structured interviews. In total, nineteen leaders at strategic organizational level were included who all possessed previous experience of decision-making within national and international staff work. The interviews were analysed according to a thematic analysis. Several decision-making challenges were described in the interviews. The study supports the conclusion that the objective, and especially the subjective, outcome of leadership is dependent on decision difficulty.
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| 19. |
- Wallenius, Claes, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
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How (Not) to Implement an Unpopular Decision : A Case-Study of the Swedish Armed Forces
- 2017
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 7:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to evaluate the armed forces' ability to implement an unpopular decision while maintaining commitment and job satisfaction among its personnel, as well as examine what factors affect the perceived outcome of a decision process in a military context. In line with earlier research, it was hypothesized that a fair process, knowledge (about the circumstances and objectives of the decision) and trust (in the decision-makers) will promote decision acceptance. An additional hypothesis was that a higher hierarchal position will promote understanding of the decision. A specific decision process was chosen - that which led to the 2010 choice to make service on international military missions mandatory for all personnel in the Swedish Armed Forces. An ad hoc questionnaire was constructed with the intention to measure the perception of the decision's input values, the decision process, the organization and decision-makers, as well as of the outcome. The questionnaire response rate was 48% (N = 229 respondents). The respondents were (predominantly middle-aged, mid-career, male) Swedish military officers and civilian employees. Knowledge about the decision, its perceived timing, and trust in the decision makers - but not the respondents' hierarchical position - significantly contributed to the outcome : its degree of acceptance. The study shows much dissatisfaction with the decision and its implications, but also a lack of knowledge about the decision-making process involved.
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| 20. |
- Weber, Megan, et al.
(författare)
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A Principal Component Analysis of Swedish Conscripts’ Values and Attitudes towards their Military Education
- 2015
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 5:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- By identifying components relevant to conscripts' success in and positive attitudes towards the military, we may be able to make it a more attractive employment option for current and future age-cohorts, thus solving the recruitment crisis not only in Sweden, but in several other European countries that have recently made the shift from conscription to an all-volunteer force. Precisely, this study aims to identify and examine conscripts' values and attitudes towards their mandatory tour of duty. The objective of this study is to analyze the components important to Swedish conscripts in order to determine what components should be included or emphasized in future military education programmes. Data were collected from 55,239 conscripts between 2002 and 2010 (when conscription was suspended in Sweden), using an anonymous course evaluation questionnaire. Data from 2002-2005 were combined and used as a baseline to compare against data from later years. Principal component analysis was conducted and resulted in 3 components being extracted for each year (except 2008, a year for which only 2 components were extracted). Those components were individual development, group cohesion, and competence/ state of readiness. The study's most important conclusion was that conscripts' attitudes and values were in line with those of younger generations and that a focus on these values may lead to the development of more attractive educational and career opportunities for today's youth.
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| 21. |
- Weibull, Louise, et al.
(författare)
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"Don't fight the blue elephant" : Humorous Signs as Protests and Conductors of Negotiations in Swedish Peace Support Operations
- 2013
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 3:3, s. 1-19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article focuses upon the role of humour among Swedish soldiers deployed on peace supportoperations, and more specifically on ‘applied' workplace humour (Mulkay, 1988). Applied humour makes certain points about situations, social groups or phenomena beyond pure entertainment. Data refers first and foremost to workplace signs encountered at military compounds in Liberia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and interviews with 26 Swedish soldiers before, during and after their deployments. The findings suggest that humorous exchanges in missions abroad are omnipresent and serve many purposes: humour is a space for release from various stresses involved in a strictly hierarchical organization as well as in subordination to rules, policies and designed roles - but also where barbed ideas inappropriate for serious communication are vented (Fine, 1988). It is further argued that differences in the nature of operations (i.e. threat level and work tasks) is reflected in the messages' content. Even if the overall purpose of the humorous discourse seems to be more of a safety valve and ‘cathartic-ritual' than making a claim for change, this might in turn depend on the conviction that there is no alternative. Overall, the paper adds to the literature a description of humorous exchanges in a highly structured organizational setting where the need for sense-making is ever present.
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| 22. |
- Weibull, Louise, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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'Don't fight the blue elephant' : Humorous signs as protests and conductors of negotiations in Swedish Peace Support Operations
- 2013
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 3:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article focuses on the role of ”applied” workplace humor (Mulkay 1988) as used by Swedish soldiers deployed overseas. The data primarily refers to workplace signs encountered at military compounds in Liberia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan and interviews with Swedish soldiers before, during, and after deployment. The article aims to compare signs found in two types of military contexts; high and – low-intensity conflict areas respectively, and the findings show that differences in the nature of operations (i.e. threat level and duties) is reflected in the messages’ content. Further, we see humorous exchanges during overseas missions as something that provide the scope for relieving various stresses arising from disillusions, and from being subordinated to rules, policies and designed roles, but also where barbed ideas inappropriate for ”serious” communication are vented (Fine 1988). Overall, the paper adds to the literature a description of humorous exchanges in two organizational settings where the need for sense making is always present.
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| 23. |
- Weibull, Louise, 1973-
(författare)
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Post-Deployment Disorientation : The emotional remains of uneventful Peace Support Operations
- 2012
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 2:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is widely recognized that participation in high-intensity military missions abroad can result in discomforts, serious health conditions, and psychological consequences for the individual. This article, however, focuses on soldiers' experiences after service in two relatively calm mission areas. It aims to contribute to a discussion of the emotional price soldiers pay even when participating under these circumstances. It argues that although the general view among soldiers is that service abroad is a unique, rewarding and cherished experience, we should further recognize it as an accomplishment that also has other transformative properties. This is often manifested in what is here named 'Post-Deployment Disorientation' (PDD), invoking a different outlook on life and navigation in the social world. This article explores the soldiers' sense-making of this change by adopting an emotion-focused sociological perspective. Confirmation of assumptions made is presented through reference to interviews with 24 Swedish soldiers before, during and after their deployments to Kosovo and Liberia.
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| 24. |
- Wikman, Lars, 1981-
(författare)
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War with the Terrorists or Rebuilding a Nation in Need? : Dutch Public Opinion on Afghanistan : The Theory of the Principal Policy Objective Revisited
- 2016
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; ERGOMAS:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article points to the need for a more complex understanding of the public's perception of the Principal Policy Objective (PPO) when it comes to citizens' attitudes toward foreign military interventions. In contrast to previous research, where one PPO has been linked to support either by experimental standards or survey practicality, this article uses a survey and a method which allow the analysis to account for conflicting PPOs and leaves the interpretation of the PPO to the individual respondent, increasing the validity of the results. This is done using a dataset based on a monthly survey, conducted during the Dutch military involvement in the Afghan province of Uruzgan (2006-2010), in which questions on support and perceptions of two PPO are separated in the questionnaire permitting a separation of two different PPO measurements on each value of public support. In the Dutch case two PPOs stand out as dominating the public discourse : War on Terror and the Reconstruction of Afghanistan. Both are included in the survey. Based on an OLS regression analysis, this article draws the conclusion that there is a significant relationship between each of the PPOs separately and public support, even when controlled for each other. Previous research has pointed to a dominating PPO that guides attitude behaviour ; however, this article finds instead that several PPOs could be driving support simultaneously and that each has a significant relationship to public support independent of one another. This article offers some possible theoretical insights as to how but additional research is necessary to further investigate how several perceptions of PPO relate to each other during the formation of attitudes amongst the citizenry.
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| 25. |
- Österberg, Johan, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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A Diary-Based Case Study in the Development of Unit Cohesion during Basic Training in the Swedish Air Force
- 2019
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - : Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 9:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Military training is regarded as a life-changing experience and military service provides a vigorous set of norms and behaviour models. Esprit de corps, morale and cohesion are concepts that are strongly connected with the military context. The aim of this case study was to get a clearer insight into the social life and unit cohesion of Swedish Air Force recruits. Based on a digital diary approach, an exploratory design was used to collect data during military basic training. Four voluntary participants wrote a weekly diary throughout their nine-month basic training. Results indicate that the development of unit cohesion among recruits was a prominent feature during military basic training. They further show that an understanding of the development of unit cohesion could be based on the following four themes : positive adaptation to a new environment, constructive group development, qualitative leadership and challenge. These findings underline the importance of good leadership and positive group dynamics in fostering unit cohesion. Further studies should address the dark side of cohesion, where the military can develop norms and behaviours that are too strong and could be negative, leading to a conflict with the goals of the Armed Forces.
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| 26. |
- Österberg, Johan, 1969-
(författare)
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Preparatory Military Training : An Experiment in Integrating Minorities in the Swedish Armed Forces
- 2017
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Ingår i: Res Militaris. - 2265-6294. ; 2:5, s. 1-12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Preparatory Military Training (PMT) project, a labour market programme, resulted in 2012 from a collaboration between the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) and Public Employment Service (PES), with the former in the lead role as organizer. The project wanted to attract long-term unemployeds of non-EU immigrant extraction and prompt them to undertake ten weeks of training and practice in SAF facilities on a voluntary basis. The SAF's aim was essentially to incite them to enlist at a later stage so as to benefit from their expertise in non-European languages and cultures on international missions, and also to strengthen the SAF's image as an attractive employer. Implementation results showed that while PMT failed to attract as many participants as anticipated and to generate a significant number of later enlistments, it was successful in most other respects : the Swedish military managed to reach out to a much sought-after recruitment target group, and saw its image improve in the eyes of participants who were overall very satisfied with it, notably with the military part of the training. The Public Employment Service, for its part, regarded it as one of the most successful labour programmes ever conducted in Sweden as most participants found jobs or pursued further studies upon completion of PMT. Yet, the programme was discontinued after 2014, not least because of another round of military downsizing. But the recent reinstatement of conscription in Sweden will likely make the findings derived from it useful in making the armed forces more representative of society's diverse composition.
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