Welcome to the U.S. Army: A qualitative examination of the Army’s reception of new soldiers
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Kintzle, S., Schnyder, L. P., Alday, E., Gonzalez, L. A., Barak, M. M., & Castro, C. A. (2023). Welcome to the U.S. Army: A qualitative examination of the Army’s reception of new soldiers. Armed Forces & Society. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X231170837
Abstract Created by REACH:
This study examined how Soldiers experienced the welcome and onboarding process when they joined the Army or transitioned into a new unit or installation. 120 Soldiers participated in focus groups about the welcome process, leadership’s engagement with new Soldiers, and the Total Army Sponsorship Program (TASP). Overall, positive welcome experiences were characterized by the intentional development of personal and professional connections, often via welcome activities that bolstered feelings of cohesion. Although Soldiers’ impressions of the TASP program varied, having an engaged sponsor was crucial for fostering a positive onboarding experience.
Focus:
Other
Branch of Service:
Army
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Methodology:
Qualitative Study
Authors:
Kintzle, Sara, Schnyder, Leslie P., Alday, Eva, Gonzalez, Lindsey Alas, Barak, Michàlle Mor, Castro, Carl A.
Abstract:
Joining the Army, a new installation or a new unit are times of significant stress for Soldiers. Support provided during these transitions can affect unit cohesion, Soldier well-being, retention, and mission readiness. This research aimed to explore how Soldiers experience the Army onboarding process as well as perceptions of the welcome experience. Nineteen focus groups were conducted with 120 Soldiers using a semistructured interview protocol. Thematic analysis of focus group transcripts revealed two major themes, varied welcome experience and an inconsistent Total Army Sponsorship Program. Soldiers reported varied transition experiences ranging from positive, neutral, nonexistent, to negative. Results indicate that Soldiers welcome experience was dependent on the specific installation, leaders, and unit. Findings demonstrate that at the installation and unit level, the Army currently lacks standardized processes for onboarding new service members. We note the research limitations and offer several recommendations that can be drawn from the present findings.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
SAGE
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, SK
USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, LPS
USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, EA
USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, LAG
USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, MMB
USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CAC
Keywords:
transition, new soldier, welcome experience
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
Sponsors:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The research described herein was sponsored by the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of the Army (Cooperative Agreement Number W911NF-18-2-0189).
REACH Newsletter: