Platoon Readiness as a Function of Leadership, Platoon, and Company Cultures

摘要

The ultimate criterion of Army light infantry unit readiness is its performance in combat. A second criterion is the unit's readiness in peacekeeping missions. A close representation of requirements for peacekeeping is reflected in the unit's effectiveness in home station. A modified military version of the Multifactor leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was used to profile the individual leadership style of platoon leaders (PLs) and platoon sergeants (PSGs). The Team Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (TMLQ) was used to describe the platoon and company culture. Results for the MLQ were in line with expectations derived from Bass and Avolio's full range model of leadership. If leaders, particularly PLS, were transformational according to their superiors, peers, and subordinates, their platoons were seen by raters in home station as more effective both in home station and in simulated combat arenas. The most accurate predictions were made by the company cadres; the least accurate were made by the platoon members. Overall, the level of transformational leadership exhibited by platoon leaders in garrison predicted performance at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). Similarly the platoon sergeant's transformational leadership also predicted performance at JRTC.