A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo geral analisar as representações sociais da hierarquia construídas pelos militares da FAB, considerando suas segmentações em termos dos círculos de oficiais e graduados, dos respectivos processos de formação, dos sexos de seus componentes e dos estágios, se formados ou em formação, em que se encontram. A fundamentação teórica discorre sobre a hierarquia, princípio geral das instituições militares, previsto por lei e regulador do comportamento militar, conforme prevê o Estatuto dos Militares (BRASIL, 1980); a respeito do poder, na perspectiva de Max Weber (1999) que trata a obediência, a partir da autoridade de uma pessoa sobre outras, e de acordo com Amitai Etzioni (1974), que entende o poder como a capacidade que uma pessoa tem de induzir outra a seguir suas orientações. Apresenta ainda a Teoria das Representações Sociais, proposta por Serge Moscovici (1961), para quem as representações sociais servem de instrumento de leitura da realidade, e a partir da abordagem estrutural, proposta por Jean-Claude Abric (1976), segundo a qual a representação social é composta pelo sistema central, constituído pelo núcleo central, e pelo sistema periférico, formado por elementos periféricos. A amostra foi composta por 600 militares, oriundos das escolas de formação de oficiais e de graduados, do âmbito do Comando da Aeronáutica (COMAER): Academia da Força Aérea (AFA), cuja finalidade é a formação dos Oficiais da Ativa dos quadros de Aviação, de Intendência e de Infantaria, a Escola de Especialistas da Aeronáutica (EEAR), responsável pela formação e pelo aperfeiçoamento dos graduados e o Centro de Instrução Especializada da Aeronáutica (CIEAR), responsável pela capacitação de oficiais e graduados em áreas afins à sua especialização. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio da técnica de evocação livre ao termo indutor hierarquia, da aplicação do questionário de caracterização e do questionário geral, composto por questões abertas e fechadas. As evocações foram processadas pelo software EVOC, desenvolvido por Pierre Vergès (2005), as questões fechadas receberam o processamento com o auxílio do software SPSS e as questões abertas sofreram uma categorização para o refinamento das análises. Os resultados encontrados nas comparações do conteúdo temático e da estrutura das representações sociais entre os diferentes segmentos permitem afirmar que os temas respeito e disciplina são os prováveis elementos centrais da hierarquia para o conjunto dos 600 militares pesquisados e caracterizam a base comum e consensual compartilhada na caserna. A hierarquia, norteada por um conjunto de regras que regula e assegura a disciplina e o respeito, direciona o comportamento dos militares, durante a formação e no decorrer da carreira. Da análise, conclui-se que os diferentes segmentos de militares da FAB possuem a mesma representação social de hierarquia. / The general purpose of the present research is to examine the social representations of hierarchy built by the military personnel from Brazilian Air Force (FAB), considering their segmentations among groups of officers and graduates, according to the respective training methods, to the gender of its members, and also taking into account the stage of development of each one if they are formed, or are still under training processes. The theoretical background focuses the hierarchy itself, as a general principle adopted by military institutions, contemplated by the applicable laws as a rule for the military behavior, as provided for by the Military Ordinance (BRAZIL, 1980); in this study, the power shall be conceived under the perspective from Max Weber (1999), who refers to obedience as a result from the exercise of someone?s authority on others, and in accordance with Amitai Etzioni (1974), who understands power as someone?s skill of inducing any other to follow his/her orientations. Our work still presents the Theory of Social Representations proposed by Serge Moscovici (1961), who defines social representations as a tool to read the reality, and also the structural approach, suggested by Jean-Claude Abric (1976), according to which social representation is composed by the central system, integrated by a central core group, and by the peripheral system, formed by peripheral elements. Our sample was composed by 600 members of the military staff from schools of officers and graduates, supervised by the Air Force Command (COMAER): Air Force Academy (AFA), which is responsible for training Active-Duty Military Officers working for the Aviation, Administration and Infantry departments, the Air Force School of Specialists (EEAR), which is responsible for training graduated officers, and the Air Force Center of Specialized Training (CIEAR), which is in charge of training officers and graduated personnel in areas that are related to their field of specialization. The data hereby exposed were collected by means of the technique of free evocation to the prompting term hierarchy, by the use of characterization and general queries, composed by open and closed questions. The evocations were processed by the EVOC software, developed by Pierre Vergès (2005), while the closed questions were processed by the SPSS software, and the open ones were classified for the purpose of refining the analysis. The results disclosed by the comparison between the different segments as to the thematic content and structure of social representations allow us to ascertain that the themes respect and discipline are the most likely central elements of hierarchy for the group of 600 members of military who were inquired, thus characterizing the common and mutual basis shared at the military environment. Hierarchy, guided by a set of provisions that rule and ensure discipline and respect, orientates the military behavior during the training and throughout the career. Our analysis leads us to conclude that the different military segments from FAB are guided by the same social representation of hierarchy.

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo geral analisar as representações sociais da hierarquia construídas pelos militares da FAB, considerando suas segmentações em termos dos círculos de oficiais e graduados, dos respectivos processos de formação, dos sexos de seus componentes e dos estágios, se formados ou em formação, em que se encontram. A fundamentação teórica discorre sobre a hierarquia, princípio geral das instituições militares, previsto por lei e regulador do comportamento militar, conforme prevê o Estatuto dos Militares (BRASIL, 1980); a respeito do poder, na perspectiva de Max Weber (1999) que trata a obediência, a partir da autoridade de uma pessoa sobre outras, e de acordo com Amitai Etzioni (1974), que entende o poder como a capacidade que uma pessoa tem de induzir outra a seguir suas orientações. Apresenta ainda a Teoria das Representações Sociais, proposta por Serge Moscovici (1961), para quem as representações sociais servem de instrumento de leitura da realidade, e a partir da abordagem estrutural, proposta por Jean-Claude Abric (1976), segundo a qual a representação social é composta pelo sistema central, constituído pelo núcleo central, e pelo sistema periférico, formado por elementos periféricos. A amostra foi composta por 600 militares, oriundos das escolas de formação de oficiais e de graduados, do âmbito do Comando da Aeronáutica (COMAER): Academia da Força Aérea (AFA), cuja finalidade é a formação dos Oficiais da Ativa dos quadros de Aviação, de Intendência e de Infantaria, a Escola de Especialistas da Aeronáutica (EEAR), responsável pela formação e pelo aperfeiçoamento dos graduados e o Centro de Instrução Especializada da Aeronáutica (CIEAR), responsável pela capacitação de oficiais e graduados em áreas afins à sua especialização. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio da técnica de evocação livre ao termo indutor hierarquia, da aplicação do questionário de caracterização e do questionário geral, composto por questões abertas e fechadas. As evocações foram processadas pelo software EVOC, desenvolvido por Pierre Vergès (2005), as questões fechadas receberam o processamento com o auxílio do software SPSS e as questões abertas sofreram uma categorização para o refinamento das análises. Os resultados encontrados nas comparações do conteúdo temático e da estrutura das representações sociais entre os diferentes segmentos permitem afirmar que os temas respeito e disciplina são os prováveis elementos centrais da hierarquia para o conjunto dos 600 militares pesquisados e caracterizam a base comum e consensual compartilhada na caserna. A hierarquia, norteada por um conjunto de regras que regula e assegura a disciplina e o respeito, direciona o comportamento dos militares, durante a formação e no decorrer da carreira. Da análise, conclui-se que os diferentes segmentos de militares da FAB possuem a mesma representação social de hierarquia. / The general purpose of the present research is to examine the social representations of hierarchy built by the military personnel from Brazilian Air Force (FAB), considering their segmentations among groups of officers and graduates, according to the respective training methods, to the gender of its members, and also taking into account the stage of development of each one if they are formed, or are still under training processes. The theoretical background focuses the hierarchy itself, as a general principle adopted by military institutions, contemplated by the applicable laws as a rule for the military behavior, as provided for by the Military Ordinance (BRAZIL, 1980); in this study, the power shall be conceived under the perspective from Max Weber (1999), who refers to obedience as a result from the exercise of someone?s authority on others, and in accordance with Amitai Etzioni (1974), who understands power as someone?s skill of inducing any other to follow his/her orientations. Our work still presents the Theory of Social Representations proposed by Serge Moscovici (1961), who defines social representations as a tool to read the reality, and also the structural approach, suggested by Jean-Claude Abric (1976), according to which social representation is composed by the central system, integrated by a central core group, and by the peripheral system, formed by peripheral elements. Our sample was composed by 600 members of the military staff from schools of officers and graduates, supervised by the Air Force Command (COMAER): Air Force Academy (AFA), which is responsible for training Active-Duty Military Officers working for the Aviation, Administration and Infantry departments, the Air Force School of Specialists (EEAR), which is responsible for training graduated officers, and the Air Force Center of Specialized Training (CIEAR), which is in charge of training officers and graduated personnel in areas that are related to their field of specialization. The data hereby exposed were collected by means of the technique of free evocation to the prompting term hierarchy, by the use of characterization and general queries, composed by open and closed questions. The evocations were processed by the EVOC software, developed by Pierre Vergès (2005), while the closed questions were processed by the SPSS software, and the open ones were classified for the purpose of refining the analysis. The results disclosed by the comparison between the different segments as to the thematic content and structure of social representations allow us to ascertain that the themes respect and discipline are the most likely central elements of hierarchy for the group of 600 members of military who were inquired, thus characterizing the common and mutual basis shared at the military environment. Hierarchy, guided by a set of provisions that rule and ensure discipline and respect, orientates the military behavior during the training and throughout the career. Our analysis leads us to conclude that the different military segments from FAB are guided by the same social representation of hierarchy.

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Military staff are repeatedly exposed to stressful and unpleasant traumatic life events. These can cause psychological injury, leading to mental and emotional stress. The stigma of mental health problems in military settings runs deeper than in civil society. Being admitted with mental health problems while serving can be a career stopper, but at times can also be associated with cowardice or malingering. It is the primary responsibility of the military to maintain and promote high military/combat readiness among staff. The change in focus of modern military forces, such as the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), with units being deployed more often, places greater demands on troops. Such operations call for increased training exercises, planning sessions and equipment inspections. Training emphasizes discipline and integrity as the core values of the BDF. These form a foundation for healthy and successful coping strategies. The morale of employees is the starting point for measuring their wellness. Morale in the military is embedded in the fitness programs. These are biased towards military training, creating physical fitness, mental alertness and the qualities of military preparedness. The programs are normally involuntary, mandated through the commander, and form part of a soldier‘s military duties. Military recreation, morale and welfare programs were introduced as a way to provide soldiers with the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate. Recreation serves as a powerful tool for achieving an optimal experience, motivating people to change and improve their health and wellness. The problem identified for this study was that members of the BDF were exposed to situations in a military context, as well as in their personal lives, which caused stress. It was postulated that BDF members had little knowledge or the resources to utilize appropriate recreation-related coping strategies. The study aimed primarily to explore the use of sport and recreation activities in military settings as means to reduce and manage stress. To achieve this goal, it was necessary first to determine the current sport and recreation participation of BDF staff members, then to assess their existing stress levels, their overall psychological well-being, and any dysfunctional behaviours resulting from stress. On the basis of these findings, a Therapeutic Recreation Stress Management Intervention Model was proposed, designed to reduce stress and promote the psychological well-being of BDF members. A survey was carried out using a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the collected data, offering a basic description of the data through frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, variances and relationships. Inferential statistics were used to draw conclusions from the data collected, giving the various factors. The results revealed that the BDF was a male-dominated institution, recruiting soldiers between the ages of 18 and 44, most of whom had some level of education. Most of the staff members came from the lower ranks and had experienced one or more deployments since being recruited into the military. The results further indicated that BDF staff members participated in sport and recreation activities, reflecting an active and healthy lifestyle, with satisfactory levels of involvement. Analysis of stress responses revealed that members experienced stress and that this was related not just to operational or non-operational military stressors but also to personal stressors resulting from their social, financial or emotional conditions. Members of the BDF did not receive the necessary social support from family members and friends to cope with these stressors. The findings on stress in relation to sport and recreation participation revealed that BDF members were intrinsically motivated to embrace healthy lifestyles which could contribute to lower levels of stress. This could even lead to a decrease in stress, supporting the literature which indicates that engaging in physical activities, as part of living a healthy lifestyle, might lead to a reduction in stress levels. The results on the stress-coping measures used by BDF members revealed that recreation activities were deliberately used to cope with stress. Although physical exercise was used as a way of coping with stress, sedentary recreation activities were more prevalent among BDF members. Positive stress-coping measures were adopted by respondents, contrary to the findings of previous studies which indicated that military staff adopted dysfunctional behaviour as a coping measure (e.g. excessive drinking) that formed part of the military culture. The stress-coping abilities of BDF members differed in terms of personal and military demographics from those of previous studies, posting a new contribution to military literature. The results further revealed that BDF members were not sufficiently skilled in coping with stress during military training. This study concluded that the Botswana Defence Force is no different from other military forces, experiencing operational and non-operational stress, as well as personal stress, which need to be addressed. Recommendations were made for further research on stress in military contexts and further guidelines were suggested to the BDF on the use of sport and recreation, together with more specific therapeutic recreation, as ways to reduce stress. A Therapeutic Recreation Stress Management Intervention Model was recommended for further testing in the BDF, as well as in other military forces. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted