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"In a combat unit, every individual has to click together, and what makes them click is trust. To survive in a killing field, a warrior must believe he is invincible, that he is wearing gold armor; that he can buck 1, OOO-to- 1 odds and live. To think that way, he has to be macho. When it goes, the warrior starts thinking, 'Maybe I won't make it.' And, from that moment on, the unit goes to hell. "
-David Hackworth, Newsweek,
23 November 1992
Unit cohesion is an aspect of warfare that is of utmost importance, yet most find it extremely difficult to explain or define. What is cohesion, and more important, how does one measure it? For anyone who has ever been part of a unit or team with solid cohesion, he or she knows its importance. At the same time that person also knows how it is nearly impossible to define.
The 1992 Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces defined cohesion as follows:
Cohesion is the relationship that develops in a unit or group where: (1) members share common values and experiences; (2) individuals in a group conform to group norms and behavior in order to ensure group survival and goals; (3) members lose their personal identity in favor of group identity; (4) members focus on group activities and goals; (5) members become totally dependent on each other for the completion of their mission or survival; and (6) members must meet all standards of performance and behavior in order to not threaten group survival. The evidence also shows that unit cohesion can be negatively affected by the introduction of any element that detracts from the need for such key ingredients as mutual confidence, commonality of experience, and equitable treatment. 1
The Importance of Cohesion in Battle
Military theorist Carl von Clausewitz wrote at length on the importance of cohesion. In his view, the moral elements are among the most important factors of war, second only to the physical. "In engagement, the loss of morale has proved the major decisive factor."2 "History provides the strongest proof of the importance of moral factors and their incredible effect."3 He believed the moral domain included the skill of the commander, the...