All Marines to be culturally trained.

kawaishi · 09-14-2010, 13:54

MarAdmin 468/10 orders that all Marines begin recieving cultural training for 1 of 17 specific world regions for the duration of their career. This isn't special training or FID units, this is Marine Corps wide.
While it's not a bad idea to try and broaden the minds of young troops, I hope the Corps doesn't start trying to claim that it's line infantry battalions are "Special Forces Operations Capable." The indoctrination in the Marines does lead to our dogma that anything a Soldier does a Marine can do better, and that is dangerous thinking.

http://www.usmc.mil/news/messages/Pa...MIN468-10.aspx

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news...ining-091310w/

FMF DOC · 09-14-2010, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by kawaishi

MarAdmin 468/10 orders that all Marines begin recieving cultural training for 1 of 17 specific world regions for the duration of their career. This isn't special training or FID units, this is Marine Corps wide.
While it's not a bad idea to try and broaden the minds of young troops, I hope the Corps doesn't start trying to claim that it's line infantry battalions are "Special Forces Operations Capable." The indoctrination in the Marines does lead to our dogma that anything a Soldier does a Marine can do better, and that is dangerous thinking.

http://www.usmc.mil/news/messages/Pa...MIN468-10.aspx

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news...ining-091310w/

Just my two cents worth but I highly doubt the Marines will ever claim that they are anything but Devil Dogs and would not want the title of Special Forces Capable. And it's never a bad idea to broaden then minds of young military men/women regardless of MOS.

mark46th · 09-14-2010, 16:50

You shouldn't try to teach a dog to sing. It is impossible and only annoys the dog...

Utah Bob · 09-14-2010, 17:04

Couldn't hurt. Better late than never.

T-Rock · 09-14-2010, 18:21

Looks like they’re pretty well culturally trained to me

“Mujahideen,” “Jew,” come and play…
http://www.qubetv.tv/videos/detail/3483

echoes · 09-14-2010, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by kawaishi

MarAdmin 468/10 orders that all Marines begin recieving cultural training for 1 of 17 specific world regions for the duration of their career. This isn't special training or FID units, this is Marine Corps wide.

Have always liked Marines. They rock at what they do, as they are trained to.

Like Force Recon Marines. They are hardcore, and know their job, IMVHO.

Holly

SF_BHT · 09-14-2010, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoes

Have always liked Marines. They rock at what they do, as they are trained to.

Like Force Recon Marines. They are hardcore, and know their job, IMVHO.

Holly

Holly
You are only supposed to kiss up to us

Richard · 09-14-2010, 19:35

This is the funniest thread I've seen lately. I saw it tried with the embassy Marines - they had nil interest and it didn't work too well - I can only imagine how it'll go on a Corps-wide scale. Maturity is a big factor. I guess nobody ever reads any AARs in the Corps, either.

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02

JimP · 09-14-2010, 21:19

this has got to be the commandant's initiative. He tried this crap before he deployed to Iraq and that is one reason fallujah became "Fallujah". he never caught on that the bunny-hugging classes didn't really succeed in getting the muj to like them. Lot of good marines died due to his ineptitude. and "no", I don't like the man.

echoes · 09-15-2010, 13:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

Holly
You are only supposed to kiss up to us

Oh now B, you know "Ya'll" are MY Guys!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimP

Lot of good marines died due to his ineptitude.

This is so sad to learn about!

Holly

nmap · 09-15-2010, 13:46

Ahh, cultural training. While I have not received the military version of cultural training, I have had a number of courses that emphasized different cultures, the elimination of "deficit thinking" and use of "community stores of knowledge", as well as the interaction between the various cultures.

Deficit thinking means that one should not focus on what the groups do not know, but rather on what they do know. Likewise, the community stores of knowledge. Thus, one should not emphasize that they do not know how to use a computer, but rather should note their ability to use the bus system to get to their various destinations. No, I am not making that up. Yes, it is a specific example from a specific class. But I digress....

None of this had any particular effect on attitudes or opinions. It did not improve harmony between groups or individual elements within those groups. Always supposing, of course, that my comments weren't the problem....

My observation - knowledge of another culture does enhance the ability to get along with them, if one cranks up their SA and really works at accomodating the other viewpoint. However, such knowledge also informs one how to annoy members of other groups in subtle and unpleasant ways. The knowledge can form the basis for gaining useful cooperation from members of those other groups; however, there is a price to be paid for such cooperation. I do not doubt for a moment that Special Forces soldiers know how to turn that to good advantage. I am not at all sure that I, or most others, could.

All MOO, YMMV, etc.

echoes · 09-15-2010, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmap

My observation - knowledge of another culture does enhance the ability to get along with them, if one cranks up their SA and really works at accomodating the other viewpoint. However, such knowledge also informs one how to annoy members of other groups in subtle and unpleasant ways. The knowledge can form the basis for gaining useful cooperation from members of those other groups; however, there is a price to be paid for such cooperation.

Agree, nmap, though am by far not as well written, (at least not here,) as you.

Case in point, a class of mine is studying Japanese cuisine this week, and in turn, we read about their culture, people, and food. Sorry to say, "The Rape of Nanking," was left out of our textbook...skipped over, if you will.

Found Here:
http://www.tribo.org/nanking/

Holly

nmap · 09-15-2010, 14:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoes

Case in point, a class of mine is studying Japanese cuisine this week, and in turn, we read about their culture, people, and food. Sorry to say, "The Rape of Nanking," was left out of our textbook...skipped over, if you will.

Holly

So...you could always bring in a nice arrangement of chrysanthemums...and while you dine, use chopsticks...which you stick upright in your food....

(Actually, you would NOT want to do those things!)

LINK

echoes · 09-15-2010, 15:05

[QUOTE=nmap;348647]So...you could always bring in a nice arrangement of chrysanthemums...and while you dine, use chopsticks...which you stick upright in your food....

That is SICK. How could you possibly post that? No, really, am curious!

Holly

nmap · 09-15-2010, 15:15

[QUOTE=echoes;348648]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmap

So...you could always bring in a nice arrangement of chrysanthemums...and while you dine, use chopsticks...which you stick upright in your food....

That is SICK. How could you possibly post that? No, really, am curious!

Holly

It's an example of the two-edged sword of cultural awareness. If one lacks it, one might make an embarrasing but unintentional error - for example, bringing a bouquet of 'mums. On the other hand, if one wishes to annoy, the same knowledge could be used for that very purpose.

As we choose to expand cultural training, I suggest that not everyone will use their new information in the kindest of ways.