Developing Soldier Cultural Competency

摘要

The U.S. military's technology and equipment provide an overwhelming array of resources to help American Service members conduct a wide assortment of missions. However, superior technology and equipment alone does not ensure successful missions. Rather, it is the American Service member' s human dimension and understanding of others that provides the foundation for mission success. A key aspect of the Service member's human dimension is the understanding of people in terms of customs and culture. Preparing a Service member to deal effectively with others who are from a different culture is a critical task for the Department of Defense. The challenge is to develop culturally competent Service members who are capable of winning the hearts and minds of others in future operations. This paper examines cultural competency and its role in U.S. military operations. A discussion of five key dimensions of cultural variability addresses how they can influence cross-culture communication. In addition, methodologies for training cultural competency and recommendations for implementation strategies are explored.