The United States Army is preparing for the ambiguous and consistently changing realities of the modern world by developing leaders who are adaptive, mentally agile, and open to change. However, without instruments or tools that purposefully measure adaptability within each individual leader, it is challenging to determine the U.S. Army's effectiveness at the strategic goal to develop adaptive and self-aware leaders.

The dependent variables of interest are the trait emotional intelligence scores of commissioned U.S. Army leaders who have at least 10 years of military experience. This quantitative survey based study samples (N = 28) mid-career U.S. Army Majors using a credible self-report trait emotional intelligence instrument called the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQ-SF). The TEIQ-SF measures 15 facets that nest within the Army Leadership Requirements Model (ALRM). Scores on the four primary factors measured by the TEIQ-SF (Emotionality, Self-control, Sociability, and Well-being); and scores on the independent facet of Adaptability provide insight into the U.S. Army's effectiveness at developing adaptive leaders for a complex world. The independent variables of focus are gender, military specialty, and the Big Five personality traits measured by the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI).

The results of this study suggest there are no significant differences in trait emotional intelligence (EI) between females and males within the sample of U.S. Army Majors. The results also suggest trait EI does not differ based on military specialty. The independent trait EI facet Adaptability was significantly correlated with the personality trait Conscientiousness, r = 0.39, n = 28, p < .05. The coefficient of determination indicated that 15% of the variance in Conscientiousness is explained by Adaptability. Adaptability was also significantly correlated with the personality trait Emotional Stability, r = 0.55, n = 28, p < .01. The coefficient of determination indicated that 30% of the variance in Emotional Stability is explained by Adaptability. Additionally, the trait EI factor of Self-Control was significantly correlated with the personality trait Emotional Stability, r = 0.69, n = 28, p < .01. The coefficient of determination indicated that 48% of the variance in Emotional Stability is explained by Self Control.