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Development of Cohesion in Mixed-Gender Recruit Training
Geoffrey J Orme1, E James Kehoe2
1Australian Army, Concord West, NSW, Australia.
Military Medicine
|January 29, 2019
Summary
Mixed-gender teams in the Australian Army show strong cohesion, with both male and female recruits developing bonds with leaders and peers. This research confirms that integrating women into combat units is supported by effective team cohesion during training.
Area of Science:
- Military Psychology
- Sociology of the Military
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- The Australian Army opened combat arms roles to women in 2016, raising questions about team cohesion in mixed-gender units.
- Previous research is limited due to insufficient numbers of women in combat roles.
- Basic soldier training has involved mixed-gender teams since 1995, providing a unique opportunity to study cohesion development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of women's integration into combat teams on unit cohesion.
- To examine the development of subjective bonds (vertical, horizontal, organizational) in mixed-gender recruit teams.
- To assess how gender composition affects team cohesion during basic training.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 89 females and 434 males in 46 mixed-gender sections (9-12 recruits each) during 81-day recruit training.
- Assessed vertical (leader), horizontal (peer), and organizational (army) bonding at three time points (Days 10, 46, 80).
- Analyzed bonding scores in relation to gender composition (0-55.6% female).
Main Results:
- All three types of bonding (vertical, horizontal, organizational) increased significantly for both male and female recruits during training.
- No statistically significant gender-related differences in overall bonding were found.
- While female bonding scores slightly decreased with increased female proportion, these remained high; male bonding showed no relationship with female presence.
Conclusions:
- Mixed-gender recruit training in the Australian Army fosters strong and comparable cohesion among male and female soldiers.
- Findings support the integration of women into combat and support units, as cohesion is foundational for effective teamwork.
- The study provides empirical evidence for the sustained success of mixed-gender training environments in the military.
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