Understanding Military Culture

Understanding military culture is a helpful skill for many people, including people who are not in the military. Militaries have been a part of civilizations for thousands of years. Since that time, armed forces members have adopted a special culture of skills, behaviors, and beliefs specific to their roles. For example, service members are required to be disciplined and obey authorities of higher rank. They must also train physically, mentally, and emotionally for the strains and risks of combat.

Many people who spend time in the military are forever changed by their experiences. However, civilians often have little understanding of the unique qualities of military culture. Learning more about military culture can help medical personnel, family members, friends, and many others better understand and appreciate military members and veterans.

Background

Militaries have been major parts of society for thousands of years. Most groups throughout ancient times were supported by some kind of armed forces. In some societies, young men served as hunters and warriors. They trained and developed physical acumen and weapon skills useful for routine tracking of animals. When necessary, they would use those same abilities to fight human enemies.

Larger civilizations developed standing armies. Standing armies are permanent forces of professional soldiers employed to guard cities or fortresses and go to war with enemies. They generally trained on a regular schedule, used the most up-to-date weapons technology, and operated within a formal structure of rank and organization. These standing armies created the prototype for the professional armies of modern times.

Warriors' lifestyles differed from other members of their societies. While other people might be primarily engaged in rearing children or producing and selling goods, warriors had a specific and sometimes dangerous set of tasks. They had to train for fighting and surviving in difficult conditions. They had to prepare themselves mentally and emotionally to kill others or to be killed themselves. They also had to develop strong discipline and build comradeship and cooperation among fellow warriors.

Through this process, warriors formed their own social classes with their own unique activities, goals, and values. They established the idea of a military culture. Military cultures developed across the world. Some societies, such as the Spartans of ancient Greece, were primarily driven by military activities. However, in most societies, the military culture functioned alongside the mainstream culture but remained separate. The cultures sometimes failed to interact harmoniously.

Frequently, members of the military struggle to return to civilian life after completing their service. They may find the civilian world different in structure, ethics, and interests from the military world to which they have become accustomed. Conversely, many civilians have failed to understand the ideas or behaviors of military personnel and veterans. They may not relate to military values or may find military mannerisms undesirable.

Overview

Many civilians know little about military life other than what is depicted in the media, which may not be accurate. These people may benefit from gaining a greater understanding of military culture. With hundreds of thousands of military veterans seeking medical care, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals may greatly improve their effectiveness by gaining more knowledge of military life and tradition. Family members, friends, employers and employees, and other civilians may also benefit from expanding their understanding and appreciation of the military.

In the United States and many other countries, the armed forces are long-standing institutions with well-established traditions. They commemorate historical actions, use specialized language, and observe unique systems of behavior. Many people who spend time in the military culture adopt its ways and consider their military experience an important and influential part of their lives.

The military is part of the US government and is established in the Constitution, which places the armed forces under the overall command of the president. In this role, the president is called the commander in chief. Many other members of government, including a second-in-command known as the secretary of defense, advise the president in this capacity.

The US military and other world militaries are divided into various branches. In the United States, the military consists of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The Army, Navy, and Air Force are independent branches with their own departments in the government. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard are both divisions of the Navy, but they are considered full branches. The Army is the main force for ground operations. The Navy handles most seaborne operations, and the Air Force involves aviation forces.

Members of the armed forces may serve in full-time or part-time capacities. Either way, all branches of the armed forces follow a strict hierarchy of rank. Most service members begin at a low rank and have opportunities to advance themselves, through experience and accomplishment, to higher ranks. Lower ranks are generally referred to as enlisted ranks, and include private, corporal, and sergeant. Service members of higher ranks—such as lieutenants, captains, majors, colonels, and generals—are called officers.

Higher-ranking service members have increasing amounts of responsibility and authority, along with better pay. Whether they are in training camps, on military bases, or on the battlefield, military members must respect and obey people of higher rank. This so-called chain of command allows for strict discipline and ensures that service members with less experience obey those with more experience.

Observing the chain of command is just one of many values held by the military. The armed forces promote important ideals such as integrity and honor, both on a personal and group level. Some branches focus on particular values. Some of these include loyalty, selflessness, and respect. Many units also stress commitment to comrades, leading to the mindset of never abandoning another person and making a great effort to recover the remains of those who die. These values are ingrained in new service members, with the intention of making them guiding forces in the members' lives.

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