Crew Morale = Crew Performance

Donkey-Shot11 · 11-18-09, 04:52 PM

"But even when things are going badly and spirits are low, I agree - that doesn't always equate to bad performance, or even bad morale."

That's what I suspected. Having not spent any time in the military, I cannot judge what the atmosphere aboard a navell vessel could be. But what I've always spected is that, even if morale was poor, people would still do their job proparly and as effectivly as they could.

Granted, as a fisherman, I had noone activly hunting me an trying to kill me. But still, if you're in an enviroment wich is dangerous, where, if you slip up, you could get yourself killed: you have ample motivation to perform well. Even if for nothing else than a sence of self preservation.

I would imagine that, on a naval vessel where, I suspect, group cohesion would be actively encouraged: morale would not impede crew performance. I would imagine that, even if you'd hated your commanders guts, you'd not want to let your crew mates down. And if nothing else would want yourself and you shipmates to survive.

Where I can imagine low morale effecting performance is: when you are utterly cornered with no oppertunity of escape. When a sence of impending and total defeat sets in, people would just give up in desperation.

But, if there's even a small chance of survival, my guess is: people would more often and then not do their damdest what's necissary to survive.

ETR3(SS) · 11-18-09, 06:55 PM

Every patrol on my boat there was the infamous "Hate Week." Usually occurred after the first week and lasted for about a week or so. Never got physical. Never effected our performance. About the only thing that did effect our performance was a lack of sleep that happened during an inspection. But even then it was an inspection so we would push ourselves.

VonHesse · 11-18-09, 07:49 PM

No Navy experience here, Army for me, but I think there's a certian dynamic between men when encountering a shared stressful experience, that I always assumed was nearly universal. The gist of it is this:

As long as the leader is universally hated, all is well.

What I mean is that in my experience, as long as the crew/joes see a singular source of their discomfort, as the road gets tougher they put aside their individual differences and band together to fight their common enemy. Of course, it's not always the Captian that's enemy, sometimes it's the XO or the Platoon Sargeant. Also, the men need a leader they can love, i.e. First Sargeant/Cheif of Boat that they see as their protector from said enemy. It's kind of a good cop/bad cop thing, but I've never seen it fail.

Nothing about SH5, I'm sure, just my 2 cents on the subject.

Lord Justice · 11-18-09, 10:15 PM

yes i agree, good points. served in army also.

11-18-09, 06:55 PM	#2
ETR3(SS) Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Between test depth and periscope depth Posts: 3,021 Downloads: 175 Uploads: 16	Every patrol on my boat there was the infamous "Hate Week." Usually occurred after the first week and lasted for about a week or so. Never got physical. Never effected our performance. About the only thing that did effect our performance was a lack of sleep that happened during an inspection. But even then it was an inspection so we would push ourselves. __________________ USS Kentucky SSBN 737 (G) Comms Div 2003-2006 Qualified 19 November 03 Yes I was really on a submarine.

11-18-09, 04:52 PM	#1
Donkey-Shot11 Watch Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 26 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	"But even when things are going badly and spirits are low, I agree - that doesn't always equate to bad performance, or even bad morale." That's what I suspected. Having not spent any time in the military, I cannot judge what the atmosphere aboard a navell vessel could be. But what I've always spected is that, even if morale was poor, people would still do their job proparly and as effectivly as they could. Granted, as a fisherman, I had noone activly hunting me an trying to kill me. But still, if you're in an enviroment wich is dangerous, where, if you slip up, you could get yourself killed: you have ample motivation to perform well. Even if for nothing else than a sence of self preservation. I would imagine that, on a naval vessel where, I suspect, group cohesion would be actively encouraged: morale would not impede crew performance. I would imagine that, even if you'd hated your commanders guts, you'd not want to let your crew mates down. And if nothing else would want yourself and you shipmates to survive. Where I can imagine low morale effecting performance is: when you are utterly cornered with no oppertunity of escape. When a sence of impending and total defeat sets in, people would just give up in desperation. But, if there's even a small chance of survival, my guess is: people would more often and then not do their damdest what's necissary to survive.

11-18-09, 07:49 PM	#3
VonHesse Sailor Man Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Dieser verdammte Platz Posts: 239 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	No Navy experience here, Army for me, but I think there's a certian dynamic between men when encountering a shared stressful experience, that I always assumed was nearly universal. The gist of it is this: As long as the leader is universally hated, all is well. What I mean is that in my experience, as long as the crew/joes see a singular source of their discomfort, as the road gets tougher they put aside their individual differences and band together to fight their common enemy. Of course, it's not always the Captian that's enemy, sometimes it's the XO or the Platoon Sargeant. Also, the men need a leader they can love, i.e. First Sargeant/Cheif of Boat that they see as their protector from said enemy. It's kind of a good cop/bad cop thing, but I've never seen it fail. Nothing about SH5, I'm sure, just my 2 cents on the subject.

11-18-09, 10:15 PM	#4
Lord Justice Previously 4Para Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Britain Posts: 609 Downloads: 51 Uploads: 0	yes i agree, good points. served in army also.