Factors Influencing Small-Unit Cohesion in Norwegian Navy Officer Cadets

Although cohesion is frequently believed to improve performance in military units, few studies have sought to determine what factors contribute to its formation. In this study, we used a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effects of several factors on small-unit cohesion in 2 cohorts of Norwegian Navy officer cadets. Cohesion levels in squad-size units were assessed before and after an intensive, week-long sustained operations exercise. Factors found to contribute to increased cohesion levels included the experience of the stressful exercise itself and previous familiarity with other team members. Positive effects on cohesion were also found for personality hardiness and small-unit leadership, suggesting that how stressful experiences get interpreted at the individual and the group levels also influence unit cohesion. Taken together, these findings suggest that cohesion can be increased in small military units by maximizing member familiarity within the units and by providing challenging tasks within an organizational and leadership climate that emphasizes the overall value and positive meaning of such experiences.