Welcome to the U.S. Army: A qualitative examination of the Army’s reception of new soldiers
- Kintzle, S., Schnyder, L. P., Alday, E., Gonzalez, L. A., Barak, M. M., & Castro, C. A. (2025). Welcome to the U.S. Army: A qualitative examination of the Army’s reception of new soldiers. Armed Forces & Society, 51(1), 337-360. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X231170837
- 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.
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Research summaries convey terminology used by the scientists who authored the original research article; some terminology may not align with the federal government's mandated language for certain constructs.