CORRELATION BETWEEN ARMY OFFICER PERSONALITY TYPE,

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARMY OFFICER PERSONALITY TYPE, COMBAT IDENTIFIER, LEADERSHIP STYLE, AND CAREER SATISFACTION

A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree

MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE General Studies

by EARL D. RUSSELL, MAJ, US ARMY M.A., Education Touro University International, Cerritos, California, 2008 B.S., Education, East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma, 1998

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 2011-02

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16-12-2011

Master's Thesis

FEB 2011 ? DEC 2011

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

5a. CONTRACT NUMBER

Relationship Between Army Officer Personality Type, Combat Identifier, Leadership Style, and Career Satisfaction

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6. AUTHOR(S)

Major Earl Dean Russell

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U.S. Army Command and General Staff College ATTN: ATZL-SWD-GD Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-2301

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14. ABSTRACT The dual purpose of this study includes conducting a comparative analysis of historical data and statistically analyzing new data. First, a comparative analysis will be conducted between the results of this study and a 2005 study by MAJ Laura Garren (then a student at CGSC) concentrating on the relationship between officer personality, combat identifiers, and career satisfaction. This portion of the study will identify any significant relationship changes in these parameters over the last six years.

Second, the study dimension of leadership style (transactional and transformational) will be added to the relationship analysis of this study. This portion of the study will show what type individual personalities are dominant in each of the leadership styles giving a clearer picture as to why someone with a given personality might lead in a specific way or feel that it is appropriate to lead in a certain way.

This paper will identify personality traits that relate with leadership style and determine common links between personality, combat identifiers, career satisfaction and leadership style. The study of personality indicators, through the use of Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator (MBTI) and Boje's X, Y, Z Leadership Theory, link personality types and leadership styles. Some personality types may be more successful in one career path over another. The unique blend of traits of a leader's personality creates his or her leadership style and determines the quality of their leadership ability.

15. SUBJECT TERMS

Leadership, Personality, MBTI, Transactional, Transformational, CGSC

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a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT c. THIS PAGE

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18. NUMBER OF PAGES

101

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MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE THESIS APPROVAL PAGE

Name of Candidate: Major Earl Dean Russell

Thesis Title: Relationship Between Army Officer Personality Type, Combat Identifier, Leadership Style, and Career Satisfaction

Approved by: Matthew W. Broaddus, M.A. Phillip G. Pattee, Ph.D. Robert S. Martin, M.B.A.

, Thesis Committee Chair , Member , Member

Accepted this 16th day of December 2011 by:

Robert F. Baumann, Ph.D.

, Director, Graduate Degree Programs

The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student author and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to this study should include the foregoing statement.)

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ABSTRACT

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARMY OFFICER PERSONALITY TYPE, COMBAT IDENTIFIER, LEADERSHIP STYLE, AND CAREER SATISFACTION, by Major Earl Dean Russell, 101 pages. The dual purpose of this study includes conducting a comparative analysis of historical data and statistically analyzing new data. First, a comparative analysis will be conducted between the results of this study and a 2005 study by MAJ Laura Garren (then a student at CGSC) concentrating on the relationship between officer personality, combat identifiers, and career satisfaction. This portion of the study will identify any significant relationship changes in these parameters over the last six years. Second, the study dimension of leadership style (transactional and transformational) will be added to the relationship analysis of this study. This portion of the study will show what type individual personalities are dominant in each of the leadership styles giving a clearer picture as to why someone with a given personality might lead in a specific way or feel that it is appropriate to lead in a certain way. This paper will identify personality traits that relate with leadership style and determine common links between personality, combat identifiers, career satisfaction, and leadership style. The study of personality indicators, through the use of Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator (MBTI) and Boje's X, Y, Z Leadership Theory, link personality types and leadership styles. Some personality types may be more successful in one career path over another. The unique blend of traits of a leader's personality creates his or her leadership style and determines the quality of their leadership ability.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to my committee advisors LTC (ret) Matthew Broaddus, Dr. (CDR USN ret.) Phil Pattee, and CDR Scott Martin for their counsel, advice, and patience. I could not have completed this endevour without the dedication and profound professionalism of my committee. To Venita Krueger for her patience and expertise during the editing process, it is to her that I give thanks for the professionalism of this project. A special thanks to Dr. David Bitters for his extensive knowledge and vast assistance with the statistical analysis portion of this study.

To MAJ Kirk Junker and MAJ Drew Steadman for their candidness and professionalism during many discussions as we progressed through this process together. To MAJ Justin Zimmer for being my sounding board when I became frustrated and somewhat burned out. He always had a positive attitude and found ways to make me laugh and become reenergized. He has become my best friend and to him I owe much gratitude.

I would also like to thank my father Kenneth Dean Russell for listening to my frustrations and concerns over many phone calls then providing assurance and guidance that helped maintain my focus. To my children Madeline Alyse Russell and Owen Dean Russell for their love and laughter during this time we have spent apart ? I love you both with all of my heart!

I give thanks to the Command and General Staff School for the opportunity to do this research.

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