B. Semi-Structured Interview Protocol

Appendix B

Semi-Structured Interview Protocol

Interview Protocol Guide for combat patch

Thanks for meeting with me. Can you tell me your age, rank, MOS/AOC, branch of service, TIS? What state do you drill? Relationship status? Do you have children? What is your ethnicity?

1. Can you tell me why you joined the Reserves/guard? And what made you decide on the (guard or reserve)?

2. What are your feelings about joining the reserves/guard?

3. Did you ever want to join the regular Army /AD? / Can you tell me more? Was there a particular AD unit you wanted to join/what drew you to that unit?

4. If I were to shadow you during a typical drill weekend, what would I be seeing/experiencing?

5. How many deployments do you have? (Where too and for how long)?

6. Did you deploy with a reserve/guard unit or (regular Army?)

7. What was your deployment like, any experiences stand out for you?

8. Did your unit have a patch ceremony? Yes/no? Was that important to you? If I were to be there, what would I experience?

9. When you see a combat patch on the shoulders of your fellow unit members what thoughts come to mind if any?

10. When you don’t see a combat patch on the shoulders of your fellow unit members what thoughts come to mind if any?

11. Do you/unit members ever talk about your deployment “war” stories (if any)?

12. Was deploying important to you as a soldier? Yes/no why?

13. Was having a combat patch important? Yes/no why?

14. Does having a combat patch strengthen your sense of identity as a soldier? What are some things you have thought about?

15. Does it affect your sense of belonging within your unit? Yes/no tell me more

16. Are there any things, if any, your friends and family have said to you about having been deployed? If any

17. What are your thoughts about your military service?

18. Do you think that regular active Army looks down upon serving in the reserve/guard component?

19. As a soldier, have you ever felt less than your AD counterpart? Yes/no why?

20. If you were prior AD, did you think less of the reserve counterpart? Yes/no why? (have your thoughts changed since then?)

21. Do you think that there is a negative perception of being in the guard or reserve?

22. Have you ever been called a derogatory name for Being in the reserves? (weekend warrior/nasty-guard/your light on the right).

23. What does “soldier identity” mean to you? Would having a combat patch impact you differently?? If Yes, please explain. If No, please explain.

24. Do you think it’s important as a soldier to have combat patch? If Yes, please explain. If No, please explain.

25. What are your thoughts when you see an officer without a combat patch?/What are your thoughts when you see an enlisted member without a patch? Are there any differences in your perceptions when it’s someone who is more senior in rank that does not have one?

26. What are your thoughts if the Army did away with combat patches? 27. When you think about the possibility of deploying again, do you want to go? (has anything changed for you since your first deployment?)

28. Is there anything else you’d like to share or discuss before we end the interview?

Interview Protocol Guide for non-combat patch

Thanks for meeting with me. Can you tell me your age, rank, MOS/AOC, branch of service, TIS? What state do you drill? Relationship status? Do you have children, what is your ethnicity?

1. Can you tell me about why you joined the Reserves/guard? And what made you decide (guard or reserve?)What did you want to experience? 2. What are your feelings about joining the reserves/guard? 3. Did you ever want to join regular Army on AD? Can you tell me more about that? 4. Particular AD unit u wanted to join? 5. If I were to shadow you during a drill weekend, what would I see/experience? 6. When you see a combat patch on the shoulders of your fellow unit members what thoughts come to mind? 7. Did they deploy with a reserve/guard unit or regular Army? 8. For your fellow unit members who have deployed, do they talk about their deployment “war” stories (if any)? 9. What types of things, if any, do your fellow unit members say to you about not having a combat patch? About never being deployed? 10. Do you want to deploy? Yes/no can you tell me a little more? 11. Is a combat patch important? Yes/no why? 12. What has it been like to not have not deployed to a combat zone yet? 13. Has the lack of a patch impacted your sense of belonging as a unit member?

What about as a soldier? (yes or no and Can you tell me more about that)? 14. Did you think not having a patch has affected your sense of identity as a soldier? 15. What types of things, if any, do your friends and family say to you about not having a combat patch? 16. Do your friends or family ask why you have not deployed yet? 17. Do you think that regular active Army looks down upon serving in the reserve/guard component? 18. As a soldier, do you feel less than your AD counterpart? Yes/no why? 19. If you were prior AD, did you think less your AD counterpart? Yes/no why?

20. Do you think that there is a negative perception of being in the guard or reserve? 21. Have you ever been called a weekend warrior/nasty guard/your light on the right not a real solider? Did those labels ever bother you? If yes/no why? 22. Do you think it’s important to have a combat patch? Would your sense of identity as a soldier be different as a soldier? If Yes, please explain. If No, please explain. 23. What are your thoughts when you see an officer without a combat patch?/What are your thoughts when you see an enlisted member without a patch? Are there any differences in your perceptions when it’s someone who is more senior in rank that does not have one?

24. Do you think the army should do away with wearing a combat patch? 25. When you think about possible future deployment and the chance to earn a combat patch, what thoughts come to mind?

26. Is there anything else you’d like to share or discuss before we end the interview?