Resistance and identity within the US Coast Guard Academy

Abstract

While organizations function by regulating the actions of their members, when these attempted regulations are experienced as invasive and threatening, they create the potential for resistance [1]. This paper examines organizational resistance by cadets at the United States Coast Guard Academy, in particular their resistance to regulations. Contrary to the popular public image of blind obedience to authority by subordinates in the military, there exists an inherent tension between blind obedience and loyal disobedience (i.e., situations in which being disobedient rather than obedient is considered as being loyal). The paper focuses on cadet resistance of a specific regulation, the accouterments regulation. The analysis concentrates on understanding the various categories and patterns that emerged from in-depth interviews, conversations, institutional documents, emails and photographs. As well as emergent themes and their implications to the Coast Guard Academy, an intervention strategy is presented. The major themes discussed are the nature, meaning, and form of regulations, resistance, the cycle of resistance/counter-resistance, and the cadet/administration relationship and communication.