Effective Communication In ROTC Battalion Operations: Strategies That Build Towards An Operative And Successful Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Battalion

Abstract

The research in this thesis aims to identify the communication strategies contributing to effective team building in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Many elements are involved in communication processes, especially in the military, because of the elaborate structure of the organization. Effective communication regarding ROTC operations involves in-depth studies on the application of team building and cross-cultural communication of the participants involved in ROTC. Communication strategies are the core reasoning for this thesis on the important factors that aid in facilitating effective operations in ROTC. Four themes emerged as general communication strategies for team building: goal-oriented communication strategies, modes of communication, motivational communication strategies, and consensus building communication strategies. Five themes emerged as cross-cultural communication strategies for team building within the ROTC: actions that communicate inclusivity, visual/non-verbal communication, didactic communication, question asking, and by the book communication. Implications of study findings are discussed.