Transformational Leadership, Achievement Motivation, and Perceived Stress in Basic Military Training: A Longitudinal Study of Swiss Armed Forces

In Switzerland, military service is a civic obligation for all adult male citizens, and thus, leadership style can be particularly challenging. The present study investigated the impact of superiors’ styles on recruits’ achievement motivation, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), perceived stress during their Basic Military Training (BMT). To this end, total 525 recruits (mean age: 20.3 years) were assessed both cross-sectionally longitudinally. At start BMT (baseline), at week 7, 11, participants completed series self-rating questionnaires covering demographic information, stress, (transformational, transactional und laissez-faire). Longitudinally, scores motivation OCB showed no significant difference between baseline 11th week. group comparison, experiencing higher transformational (from 7 to 11) had highest OCB, lowest 11. Exploratively, associated with Perceived correlated only but not leadership, Transformational fostered in Swiss protected them from