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Why People Join Groups

They need to belong.

They enjoy certain group activities.

They are attracted to a certain type of people as a means to an end.

Member Vignette 1: Family

Private Brittingham was a new soldier who had recently joined the squad. I noticed that he acted “down” and didn’t seem interested in talking with any of us who’d been around for a while. One afternoon after training, I saw him in the bay, just staring–not really reading the letter in his hands. It looked as though he was very sad. I didn’t want him to think I was being nosey, but I went up to him and said, “Hello.” He answered, but with his head down. I said, “I see you’re getting mail. It sure would be nice if I got a letter once in a while. My folks aren’t too good at writing, and I don’t have a girlfriend right now.”

Member Vignette 1: Family

Then Private Brittingham said, “I’m married and we have two children. My little girl, Sarah, is 2 years old, and my wife, Annie, just had a baby boy three months ago. His name is John. Being here is really tough. She’s living with her folks, and they’re great, but she cries all the time. Annie says she needs me at home to help her, but she knows it isn’t possible since I have to be here for training. I just don’t know what to do. I can’t seem to keep my mind on training. I feel like everybody is avoiding me. I don’t feel like I fit in.”

Member Vignette 2: Civic organization/Church

Sheila and Carin sang in their church choir of 40 people. They were very good friends and enjoyed singing every Sunday morning during the service. But Carin didn’t like practicing on Wednesday night every week. She thought that rehearsals were a waste of time. There were so many other people there. Nobody would miss her. Besides, she had a good voice. So Carin frequently did not go to rehearsals. One Sunday morning, the choir sang a new piece of music. The director had changed some dynamics of the music during the rehearsal that Carin missed. When one change called for Carin’s alto section to sing pianissimo (very softly), Carin sang an unplanned and unattractive solo-very loudly. She was embarrassed for herself and for ruining the music that everyone else had worked so hard to make beautiful

Member Vignette 3: School

Chuck, Johanna, Carolyn, and Ron were assigned to a group project in

Mrs. Lackey’s 11th-grade astronomy class. Mrs. Lackey stressed she wanted the classmates to work in teams. She said that everyone could learn from each other by sharing information. There would be one grade for the whole group

Member Vignette 3: School

At their first meeting after school that day, the four agreed that the topic of their project would be the different classifications of stars or star clusters. Each of the four drew straws for a specific star from different constellations to research. Carolyn selected the cluster Pleiades (pronounced ple-ah-deez) in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Immediately, she began to complain that it wasn’t fair. The other three only had one star, and she got stuck with a cluster that she translated to more work. But the others said that fair was fair, and that was her part of the project. Ron suggested that if Carolyn got into the research and it seemed like too much information to call him, that he would be happy to work with her. The others agreed to do the same.

Member Vignette 3: School

Three days later the group was scheduled to meet at the library to discuss the research findings. At the last minute, Carolyn told Ron she had forgotten a doctor’s appointment and couldn’t be there. That night, Ron called to update her about the meeting. Their presentation of the project was to on Tuesday, giving them the weekend to finish the work. Carolyn promised him she would have her part ready for their final meeting on Monday afternoon.

Member Vignette 3: School

After school, the four met for the wrap-up. Chuck read his part, followed by Johanna, then Ron. When it was Carolyn’s turn, she only had information about the constellation. There was no information about the star cluster. When the others asked what had happened to the rest of the report, Carolyn said she thought she’d done enough. Chuck, Johanna, and Ron were angry that their teammate had let them down. They had respected Carolyn enough to trust her loyalty to the team. So the three agreed to complete Carolyn’s part without her. Then all she’d have to do is read it.

Member Vignette 3: School

In class the next day, the team made their presentation. At the conclusion, Mrs.. Lackey congratulated the team for doing an A+ project. She gave special praise to Carolyn because of the interesting information she had provided about the Pleiades. Carolyn not only accepted the praise, but actually bragged that it had been an interesting project, despite the extra work that she had done on it.

Member Vignette 4: Sports

Mike Singletary, all-pro linebacker for the Chicago Bears, NFL Man of the Year, and twice “NFL Defensive Player of the Year” is a man who has lived a life of teamwork. He refers to his football experiences as being on a “team of eagles.” He has spoken publicly about what it takes to be on a “team of eagles,” whether it’s on the football field or at home as a father.

Member Vignette 4: Sports

In a speech, Mike told the audience how the team members of the Bears all met, fresh out of college, and ready to play football. But they had some problems. Although they were “eagles” with many strengths and talents for different field positions, they had not yet learned how to share their abilities. They had to learn how to take criticism without getting mad. He said that they had to learn how to say negative things in a kind way. They had to communicate clearly. In other words, those “eagles” who thought they were pretty hot had to learn how to be a team.

Member Vignette 4: Sports

They also had to learn to trust each other. Each player had to learn his other teammates’ special abilities and to use his own to balance the weaknesses. This is an example of the “weak link” in the chain that I mentioned earlier. Mike emphasized the importance of good communication between team members. The Bears didn’t become a team overnight. They worked hard. Finally, it paid off. The Bears won the Superbowl. They proved that they really were a “team of eagles.” But Mike said they became overly confident after the big win.

Member Vignette 4: Sports

They went back to their old ways of being individuals without thinking of the rest of their team. They forgot to respect each other’s special talents on the football field. They sacrificed the hard-earned loyalty that comes from trusting and respecting each other. The Bears lost the next Superbowl. Mike said the team never won a Superbowl again. He emphasized that being a team member, whether it’s on the football field or at home with the family, always takes conscious effort.

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What Is a Team?

A group of people banded together for the purpose of accomplishing a

common goal.

Member Vignette 5: Antietam

The following is an excerpt from the US Army Quartermaster Center & School’s “Historical Vignettes.” I want you to listen carefully to this historical account. Sergeant William McKinley came from civilian life directly into a world of war. He demonstrated team membership in the Union Army during battle in the Civil War. Although only the Army core value duty is mentioned, he also demonstrated personal courage and selfless service with his heroic efforts. See if you can pick out those values in this true story.

Member Vignette 5: Antietam

When the American Civil War broke out in the spring of 1861, boys on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line, caught up in patriotic enthusiasm, rushed to join the Union and Confederate armies. In June of that year, 18-year-old William McKinley quit his job as a postal clerk in Poland, Ohio and enlisted as a private in Company E of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry–a unit destined to become one of the most famous in the war. It fought in 19 battles and lost a total of 2,095 members. Before his first year of service had ended, young McKinley was promoted to Commissary Sergeant. On 17 September 1862, at the Battle of Antietam–the bloodiest day of the Civil War, in fact the bloodiest day in American military history–Sergeant McKinley was just to the rear of the battlefield watching over the brigade’s food and supplies. The men had eaten only a scanty breakfast, and he knew that as the day wore on the Buckeyes were growing weaker

Member Vignette 5: Antietam

After gathering up a handful of stragglers, Sergeant McKinley courageously led two mule teams with wagons of rations and hot coffee into the thick of battle. Working his way over rough ground, through a hailstorm of artillery and rifle fire, he ignored repeated warnings to retreat–and continued on. He lost one team of mules to Confederate gunners but did not return to the rear of the brigade until his fellow soldiers had been properly fed under the most adverse conditions. He earned that day the undying gratitude and respect of his comrades. “From Sergeant McKinley’s hand,” said the Commander afterwards, “every man in the regiment was served with hot coffee and warm meats, a thing which had never occurred under similar circumstances in any army in the world.”

Member Vignette 6: Vandalism

Private Atkinson was returning to the barracks after finishing KP. As he was walking by the telephone booth, he recognized his buddy, Private Holmes, who was talking to someone inside the booth. The very next morning, the drill sergeant told the soldiers that someone had vandalized the pay phone during an apparent attempt to steal money from it.

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Unit Cohesion

The “glue” that brings soldiers and leaders

together to make a team to accomplish the unit’s

mission.

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Factors Of Unit Cohesion (1 of 3)

Bonding– The development of strong interpersonal

relationships among soldiers and between them and their leaders.

The Army’s description of cohesion includes this element:

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Commitment– Dedication not only to the unit and what it

represents, but to the values and goals of the nation as well.

Factors Of Unit Cohesion (2 of 3)

The Army’s description of cohesion includes this element:

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Resolve– The shared determination of soldiers and their

leaders to work interdependently and accomplish the mission, and to sustain this capability over a long period of time.

Factors Of Unit Cohesion (3 of 3)

The Army’s description of cohesion includes this element:

Member Vignette 7: Night March

Private Lockhart, the squad leader, was leading the squad on a night march through the swamp. Her squad lagged behind the rest of the platoon because a member of the squad had sprained his ankle and was being helped by other squad members. Private Lockhart sent a member of the squad forward to the platoon leader to report the situation. The platoon leader sent back a message that Private Lockhart should leave the injured member by a tree to be picked up on the way back.

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Summary

What is a Team?

General Characteristics of Member

Responsibilities of an Army Team Member– Buddy– In the unit