U.S. Army Culture: An Introduction for Behavioral Health Researchers
Abstract
Culture is defined as a social domain that emphasizes the practices, discourses, and material expressions, which, over time, express the continuities and discontinuities of social meaning of a life held in common (James, 2014, p. 53).Groups define themselves in part through shared culture and understand others through perceived similarities and differences. Culture is a pervasive part of our everyday lives, and yet its influence often goes without notice. This oversight is also true for the U.S. Military. Often conceptualized as an occupation rather than a culture, the cultural considerations of military service can be easily overlooked in research settings. Military culture includes a rich collection of symbols, beliefs, values, language, dress, behaviors, relationships, and work. Like other cultures, military culture influences how research is conducted, both in its planning and execution. Understanding the culture of research participants is essential in successfully answering research questions. For researchers who work with military populations, it is important to appreciate the current stressors of battle (Chapter 8), what it means to keep the chain of command in the loop (Chapter 2), and what soldiers jobs mean to them (Chapter 3). This volume focuses on the culture of the U.S. Army. Many of the major points also apply to other military services. The concepts are important for those who desire to understand U.S. Army culture for research particularly those early in their careers. We hope that this book helps those interested in conducting research in the Army to better navigate what can seem like a foreign land. We have attempted to keep the text brief and helpful, as entire tomes have been be written on the various cultural aspects of the Army.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1040291
Entities
People
- Eric Ii G Meyer
- James E. Mccarroll
- Robert Ursano
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences