Messages from the Battlefield: Relationships of Communication Between Deployed Citizen-Soldiers and Colleagues on Organizational Commitment

Abstract

Organizational commitment, or the extent to which employees are psychologically attached to or involved in their organization, is important to overall organizational success. The strength of the attachment and the dominant component of organizational commitment--affective, normative, or continuance--have implications for behavioral outcomes of employees. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of communication with civilian colleagues and non-deployed military peers and leaders to changes in post-deployed organizational commitment of Army National Guard and Army Reservists. Frequency and channels of communication were examined. Additionally, relationships of deployment experiences, changes to the civilian organization, and recognition during reintegration were assessed. The study found that with the exception of continuance commitment to the civilian organization, all levels of post-deployment commitment to both organizations experienced a statistically significant decrease. Support messages, workplace changes, leadership changes, combat exposure, and satisfaction with recognition by the civilian organization were found to be associated with changes in commitment.