Date of Award
Spring 2024
Project Type
Thesis
Program or Major
Recreation Management and Policy
Degree Name
Master of Science
First Advisor
Brent J Bell
Second Advisor
Forrest Schwartz
Third Advisor
Jessie Bennett
Abstract
In recent years, the United States military has fallen short of recruitment and retention goals. Belonging and trust may be beneficial in developing stronger peer-to-peer bonds in first-year college outdoor orientation programs, but no known study has explored the use of adventure in developing belonging and trust in ROTC orientation programs. Researchers surveyed traditional and adventure-based ROTC orientation programs and compared belonging and trust scores. ROTC programs were then compared to non-military-based outdoor orientation programs from across the United States. Using quantitative analysis, this exploratory study found that both national outdoor orientation programs and adventure-based ROTC orientation programs increase a sense of belonging. This study also found that ROTC orientation programs yielded higher measures of leader trust than national outdoor orientation programs. These findings suggest that ROTC retention may benefit from fostering belonging and trust through adventure-based programs.
Recommended Citation
Henkelman, John Robert, "Adventure’s Role on First-Year ROTC Cadet's Sense of Belonging and Trust" (2024). Master's Theses and Capstones. 1829.
https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/1829