From the Inside Out: Achieving Long-Term Army Sustainability through Effective Command Climate

Executive Summary

The American public is increasingly losing trust and confidence in the military and has a lower propensity to serve. This has significant implications for the safety and security of the nation. To overcome these issues, the Army must develop a long-term strategy to create a positive organizational culture. This requires senior leaders to focus on educating and training junior Army leaders on how to improve the organizational climate while also modernizing bureaucratic processes that frustrate soldiers and undermine morale. 

This paper examines the role of organizational climate in the current recruiting shortfall and why it has been overlooked. The authors argue that the Army is not prioritizing positive command climates and that Army leadership lacks the necessary expertise to address organizational climate. They also suggest that Army bureaucracy impedes sound leadership. The Army must identify and overcome these obstacles to create a more positive command climate. This includes researching how bureaucratic tendencies hinder organizational climate and addressing leadership skills that need improvement. Senior leaders must be equipped with the tools to recognize and solve climate problems. The Army’s Professional Development Model must be overhauled to prioritize relevant topics that address the challenges of today’s Army. These changes will make the Army a more attractive organization for potential recruits, leading to a stronger military force.