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Soldiers express common themes regarding leadership

• The soldiers interviewed emphasized that they can tell which leaders really care about them, and that this is a key component of what makes a good leader.
• For the soldiers in this report, the best leaders are those who lead from the front and who respect their soldiers' time and contributions.

Upon enlistment, the soldiers interviewed had little in common besides youth

• The majority of privates enlisting in the Army do so at a young age, and this is reflected in the group of soldiers interviewed here.
• The soldiers in these interviews had a varied range of experience with the military before deciding to enlist.

Soldiers discover that Army life is more than boot camp, and it fosters strong relationships

• It was not uncommon for soldiers, upon arrival at their new base and job, to remark that military life was not as strict as they anticipated; many soldiers entered the Army thinking that it would be a mere continuation of boot camp.
• Virtually all six participants reported strong relationships with their fellow unit members.

Most of the soldiers in this report expressed satisfaction with their social lives in the Army

• Soldiers find that the Army provides a ready-made social circle.
• The presence of a dependent appears to make a big difference between excellent financial health and some financial difficulty for the soldiers in this report.

The Army is a transformative institution, and soldiers are changed by their military experience