Preliminary Development of the Military Socialization Inoculator: A Means of Reducing Discipline Problems by Early Socialization into Appropriate Military Behaviors
Abstract
While most African-Americans serve with distinction in the military, a disproportionate number experience the military justice system. Several studies show that more African-Americans than Whites who have encountered some problem with the military have received nonjudicial punishments (Articles 15) for insubordination early in their first tour of duty. Problems with early socialization into the military may be a cause of these problems. This paper presents the concept of the socialization inoculator as a possible solution. The socialization inoculator is a video showing correct and incorrect verbal exchanged in potentially confrontational situations followed by discussion of the videos. The inoculator would serve to create realistic expectations of work-duty situations and to show appropriate behaviors in potential interpersonal exchanges. In this first stage in the development of the inoculator, a survey of military equal opportunity reports and equal opportunity training materials resulted in a listing of actual and hypothetical confrontational scenarios between African-Americans and Whites. From this list several scenarios were developed into scripts for the video. In addition, discussion questions were included. It is recommended that a contractor develop these scripts into a high quality video and test the video at an equal opportunity training organization, such as DEOMI.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- AD1072585
Entities
People
- Stephen B. Knouse
Organizations
- Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute