Military Culture
Military Culture
Transcript
It is helpful to think about military culture with an anthropological lens, as the customs and practices that permeate military life and allow service members to understand their place in the larger military enterprise.
The aspects of life that traditionally define culture, shared values, languages, history, rituals, customs, and dress, are all present in the military and promotes service members to perform in a way that best supports military functions.
Military culture has been carefully created and nurtured with the goal of creating a clear understanding of who each person is within the military. An individual with a clearly defined role capable due to training who exists within an explicitly delineated hierarchical whole with a well-defined purpose.
Every aspect of military life supports and reinforces military culture, which emphasizes strong bonds with other soldiers, unit cohesion, and the emphasis of the interests of the group, whether that be a platoon of 20 or a division of 20,000 over those of the individual.
Starting on day one, every service member undergoes a process of identity formation, where their pro-military self is removed and replaced by a new identity that conforms to the military structure. Every aspect of military life promotes and supports the new recruits formation of their identity within military culture.
The common struggle to endure the rigors of basic training and the rituals that are learned there build and reinforce the creation of the new social identity. Individualism is de-emphasized and replaced by an increase in one's identity and serving as part of a team. Military language, including jargon, acronyms, and slang help to foster a sense of belonging within the service.
The wearing of uniforms promotes clear and easy-to-see understanding of who everyone is within the structure, based on displayed rank, awards, and role. Military culture emphasizes shared values and shared service with a heavy emphasis on mission, training, team dynamics, responsibility, and accountability.
Values such as loyalty, duty, selfless service, honor, integrity, and courage are continuously promoted in the military. Service members face similar challenges, hardships, and sacrifices ranging from constant moves, changes in jobs, and mindless routines of military life, to the almost unimaginable stresses and strains of active combat duty.
As a result, service members tend to identify strongly as part of military culture even if they become disillusioned with their service. The bonds formed among military personnel frequently result in friendships that last well beyond the end of their military career.
While many aspects of military culture are shared across the service, different branches and units have their own history, rituals, narratives, language, and culture. Knowing a little bit about military culture, showing an appreciation for that culture, and being open to listening to and learning more from student veterans will help faculty and staff in higher education who are not veterans start to bridge that cultural divide.
The aspects of life that traditionally define culture, shared values, languages, history, rituals, customs, and dress, are all present in the military and promotes service members to perform in a way that best supports military functions.
Military culture has been carefully created and nurtured with the goal of creating a clear understanding of who each person is within the military. An individual with a clearly defined role capable due to training who exists within an explicitly delineated hierarchical whole with a well-defined purpose.
Every aspect of military life supports and reinforces military culture, which emphasizes strong bonds with other soldiers, unit cohesion, and the emphasis of the interests of the group, whether that be a platoon of 20 or a division of 20,000 over those of the individual.
Starting on day one, every service member undergoes a process of identity formation, where their pro-military self is removed and replaced by a new identity that conforms to the military structure. Every aspect of military life promotes and supports the new recruits formation of their identity within military culture.
The common struggle to endure the rigors of basic training and the rituals that are learned there build and reinforce the creation of the new social identity. Individualism is de-emphasized and replaced by an increase in one's identity and serving as part of a team. Military language, including jargon, acronyms, and slang help to foster a sense of belonging within the service.
The wearing of uniforms promotes clear and easy-to-see understanding of who everyone is within the structure, based on displayed rank, awards, and role. Military culture emphasizes shared values and shared service with a heavy emphasis on mission, training, team dynamics, responsibility, and accountability.
Values such as loyalty, duty, selfless service, honor, integrity, and courage are continuously promoted in the military. Service members face similar challenges, hardships, and sacrifices ranging from constant moves, changes in jobs, and mindless routines of military life, to the almost unimaginable stresses and strains of active combat duty.
As a result, service members tend to identify strongly as part of military culture even if they become disillusioned with their service. The bonds formed among military personnel frequently result in friendships that last well beyond the end of their military career.
While many aspects of military culture are shared across the service, different branches and units have their own history, rituals, narratives, language, and culture. Knowing a little bit about military culture, showing an appreciation for that culture, and being open to listening to and learning more from student veterans will help faculty and staff in higher education who are not veterans start to bridge that cultural divide.