UNDERSTANDING MILITARY CULTURE

James Mukoyama, Jr., Maj Gen. U.S. Army (Rtd)President/CEO Military Outreach USA

President/CEO & Founder: Major General (Retired) U.S. Army 1964-1995, Vietnam combat veteran. Former Securities Industry Executive for 38 years. Promise Keepers since 1996, Command Religious Program volunteer instructor at the Great Lakes Naval Recruit Training Center since 2001. Former Chair of the National Advisory Committee for Minority Veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs. He and his wife were hospice patient volunteers for six years. Willow Creek Community Church member since 1995.

Joseph Palmer, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam VeteranExecutive Director Military Outreach USAJoe has spent more than 30 years in the role of a national sales manager for industrial and consumer based manufacturers. He is a life member of VFW Post 7539 in Bloomingdale, IL and has been active in veterans’ affairs for more than 10 years. He has attained the high honor of being an All American Post Commander and All American District Commander with the VFW. Most recently he has written Moral Injury: A Guide for Clergy and Lay Ministries. He has been an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Roselle, IL since 1994.

Presenters

ObjectivesThe objectives of this presentation:

• Understand the components that define military culture• Understand military cohesion and the warrior code• Learn some of the affects of multiple deployments and combat• Learn to engage families in systems of care• Learn strategies to identify community resources• Learn strategies to build working alliances with military families• Learn how Military Outreach USA can be your partner

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A Thought To Remember

“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”

-- General Douglas MacAurthur

A BRIEF HISTORYTransition from the draft to an all volunteer force

Conflicts with Living Veterans• World War II (1941-1945)• Korean War (1950-1953)• Vietnam (1961-1975)*• Grenada (1983)• Panama (1989)• First Gulf War/Desert Storm (1990-1991)*Military advisors 1950-1961

Conflicts with Living Veterans

• Somalia (1993)• Bosnia (1993-1995)• Kosovo (1998-1999)• Operation Enduring Freedom/OEF (2001-• Operation Iraqi Freedom/OIF (2003-2010)• Operation Inherent Resolve (2014-

The All Volunteer Force (AVF)

• Initiated as result of the draft during Vietnam War• Men still have to register

– But active draft ended in 1973• Less than .05% of U.S. population serve• Less than 7% of population alive that are veterans• AVF has created a professional military

In Comparison to 1960’s Draft Population

• Average age is older• Educational backgrounds

– Higher percent college graduates, high school/GED requirement

• Marital status higher than 1960’s

Some Demographics• All volunteer force for more than 40 years---

35% decrease since 1993• 2.2M serving in uniform today vs 15M in WWII• Racial integration in 1948• Ethnic diversity highest in the Army• Specific demographics vary by service• 15% are women (highest in the USAF at 19%)

Why Men and Women Join?• Defined in terms of values with both social

and personal significance• Challenge• Service/sacrifice• Education/Training opportunities• Economic issues—Bonus• Sense of adventure/escape life situation

Quiz Time

• Increased use increases fatigue and stress• Increases risk of physical and emotional injury• Increases the need for support

MILITARY CULTURETo heal…one needs to understand

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Understanding the nature of the military culture, combat and the stresses of living and working in a war zone are critical in dealing with the military community

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• Army• Navy• Marine Corps• Air Force• Coast Guard*

• National Guard• Reserves• Auxiliaries

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What do you call them?

o Marine = Marineso Navy = Sailorso Army = Soldierso Air Force = Airmen/Airwomeno Coast Guard = Coast Guard - “Coasties” or Guardianso National Guard = Guardsmeno Reserve = Reservists

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• Army – active component and two reserve components– Army National Guard– US Army Reserve

• Oldest and largest ground force• Fairly rigid separation of officers and

enlisted

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• Navy – 2nd largest force- One reserve component (No Nat’l Guard)

• Two primary types of duty – shore duty and fleet time

• Junior and Senior enlisted are rigidly separated, as are officers and enlisted.

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• Marine Corps – active and reserve component

• Primary mission is to capture/defense of naval bases.

• Highly competent land force• Officers and enlisted rigidly separated

for discipline and “C2” purposes

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• Air Force-active component and two reserve components– Air National Guard and AF Reserve

• Youngest branch of the military• In general, a more highly educated

force• Separation of officers and enlisted can

be less rigid than other branches

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• Coast Guard- During peacetime, part of Department of

Homeland Security (DHS), charged with protecting the public and the environment

- Has maritime and customs responsibilities during wartime

- In declared war becomes part of the Navy

Military Training and CombatBasic Training Transforms a Civilian Moral Code to a

Warrior Code– Intense, prolonged, severe reconditioning of

whole person– Strong, ritual aspects– Focused group ethos and bonding

• Task and social cohesion

– Emphasizes positive moral codes: honor, integrity, obedience to authority, courage

Military Training and Combat

Military Training is thorough and prepares people for the rigors of service in war.

– Survival in war proves value of training– Failure to properly train has life and death

consequences– Failure to develop a warrior code can be

devastating to the unit and to the individual

Core Values• Army: Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service,

Honor, integrity, personal courage• Navy and Marine Corps: Honor, courage,

commitment• Air Force: Integrity, service before self,

excellence, Honor• Coast Guard: Honor, respect, devotion to duty

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Military CultureBelief and Value Systems Create unit Cohesion

• Beliefs:Defenders of Democracy

Trust in the leadership

Role clarity

Distrust of civilians

• Value Systems: Leave no one behind“The Unit” practically becomes a ‘family system’Top & Units Cover-defend and support the boss

Social Cohesion vs Task CohesionSocial Cohesion

• Living in the barracks• Going to a bar• Playing sports• Going to a concert/game

Task Cohesion• Training• Being deployed• Being on a mission• Being in a firefight

In either case bonding occurs, but in Task Cohesion the truer, almost unbreakable bond is formed in seeking to “accomplish the mission”.

In the military, task cohesion can involve life or death decision making.

It is task cohesion that creates the “Band of Brothers”.

We Were Soldiers

MILITARY FAMILYWhen one enlists…they all enlist

When One Enlists They All Enlist• Whether active duty, National Guard or Reserves

– The family comes along

Military Family At-Risk Factors

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1. Frequent Relocation

2. Previous Deployments

3. Longer Separations

4. Larger Families

5. Younger Mothers

6. Blended Families

7. Education

8. Working Outside Home

9. Median Family Income

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Separation Creates Stress• Resulting from deployments, relocation, or training –

range from a few to many months – disrupts life cycle transitions.

• Emotional ambiguity

• Child & family ties are broken

• Heightening stress levels are the threat of death or injury of service member.

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SoldierDeployment

Separation Stress –

Depression & Anxiety

Family Adjustment w/o Soldier in Home – Out-of-Ordinary

Behaviors

Pre-reunion Stress – anxiety and worry

about behavior away

Reunion and homecoming – joy

and anticipation

Revitalize Relationships and

“honeymoon”

Family readjusts - Consequences

for behavior

Pre-deployment Conflict & PreviousStressor pile-up

Pre-deployment Stress – anxiety

and concern

The Military Deployment Cycle… or The Military Family Life Cycle

Stressors-Emotional & Physical

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For Active Component Families

• Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

• Temporary Duty (TDY)

• Deployment

• Foreign Residence

• Risk of Injury and/or death

• Behavioral & Emotional Issues

Additional for Reserve/Guard Component Families

• “Citizen Soldier”

• Mobilization and Deployment

• Separation from School, Jobs, etc.

• Demobilization

Invisible Wounds of War

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)– Must be diagnosed

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)– Concussion

• Moral Injury– A violation of one’s moral/warrior code

Why is this war different?• Volunteer vs draft• Multiple deployments • Type of suicide bombings• Never any safety, no real recovery time• Use of civilians as shields and decoys by the enemy• Deliberately targeting our moral code• COMMUNICATION! Internet, cell phones, etc.• IEDs, RPGs (TBI, hearing loss, neuro-chemical effects)• Advancement in medical treatments

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MILITARY OUTREACH USA CAN HELPPrograms you can use

Mission • Establish Military Caring Houses of

Worship and Organizations in every community in the nation

• Provide resources and materials to serve the military community

• All at no charge

Military Outreach USA

What is the Military Caring Network?

The Military Caring Network are Military Caring Houses of Worship and Organizations committed to serve those in our Military Community.

Why is the Network Needed?A New Paradigm

• Despite their best intentions the DOD and VA are overwhelmed• Less that 50% of veterans access services of the VA - particularly

concerning “mental health” issues• Private sector partners (non-profits and for-profits) can provide

important and more services to the military community• A key is that personalized care for our veteran warriors includes

the VA and community partners working together

Military Community• Veterans• Active Military

Personnel• National Guard• Reserves• Military Families

A Bridge to Resources

Resources:• VA• VSO• County

Commissions• Programs

Just Reach One ProgramHighlights• Resources to recognize and deal

with moral/spiritual injury• Used by any of your existing

ministries, such as Marriage, Family, Substance Abuse, Seniors, Outreach and more, so

• No need to create a separate Military Ministry

• Everything within the program is provided FREE of charge

Resources• Insight into Military Culture • The Department of Veteran Affairs• PTS-PTSD-TBI-MST-Moral Injury• Suicide• After Suicide• Publications• E-Newsletter

COMMUNITY RESOURCESLearn about your community resources

Community Covenant Accessing Benefits Criminal Justice Education Employment Families Health Care Housing Mental Health and Addiction Suicide Prevention Women’s Services

Community Resources • Bring agencies/organizations together to discuss

what they do and who they can serve• Discover gaps/needs in services to veterans• Develop a “go-to-provider” in each agency: one

trained who functions as trainer for others

Objectives ReviewThe objectives of this presentation:

• Understand the components that define military culture• Understand military cohesion and the warrior code• Learn some of the affects of multiple deployments and combat• Learn to engage families in systems of care• Learn strategies to identify community resources• Learn strategies to build working alliances with military families• Learn how Military Outreach USA can be your partner

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Resources

• Webinar will be available on www.militaryoutreachusa.org within 24 hours

• Links and resources on web site• For more information visit web site or email: info@militaryoutreachusa.org

Next Webinar-March 18, 2015

• PTSD and Moral Injury

Registration begins March 8, 2015