Leading marines study guide 6: operational culture

ECONOMY

All cultural groups have a specific system for obtaining, producing, and distributing items (food, clothing, cars, houses, etc.) and services (medical care, education, etc.) that people need or want to survive in their society. This system is called the economy of a culture. There are three important models of economic systems that are significant for a Marine working in a foreign AO: •Formal and informal economic systems •Economy as a network of exchange •Economy as a way of structuring social relationships This means that in any AO: 1. There will be an informal economy. 2. The informal economy will exist intertwined with the formal economy. 3. Economies will work as networks of exchange. 4. Economic interactions will structure social relationships.

BELIEF SYSTEM

All culture groups have a shared set of beliefs that unite individual members. Beliefs are learned and may originate from many sources: family, traditions, education, religion, ideologies, and even personal experience. Although some beliefs may vary among individuals, shared belief systems can be very powerful, affecting behavior and influencing the way people perceive their world. Belief systems have a variety of features such as: •Religion •History and collective memory •Folklore, icons, and heroes •Symbols and communications •Norms, mores, and taboos

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

All cultures assign people different roles, status, and power within the group. The way that roles, relationships, power, and status are reflected within a group is called the social structure. •In the U.S., ideally people earn their status or position on the basis of their skills and abilities, but in many parts of the world this is not necessarily the case. •In many culture groups, a person's roles, status, and power are frequently determined by his or her biological characteristics or social interactions. The following factors often determine social structure: -Age -Gender -Kinship -Tribal membership -Class -Ethnic membership -Religious membership

physical environment

All cultures have developed a unique interdependent relationship with their physical environment. Marines should consider the way that a cultural group determines the use of the physical environment. •Who has access to operationally relevant features of the physical environment? -water -land -food -materials for shelter -climate and seasons -fuel and power -transportation and communication •How does the culture view these resources? For example, land may be privately owned or free to everyone.

CULTURE

Culture is defined as the shared world view and social structures of a group of people that influence the actions and choices of its members. Most experts agree that culture includes the following key factors: •Culture is shared but varied—over time, over space, and among individuals. •Culture is fluid and dynamic—humans are active agents, not passive recipients. •Culture is interconnected and holistic—each dimension of culture is intimately related to the others. •Culture underlies our world view—what we perceive and think about the people and events surrounding us, and how we interpret and understand those people and events.

CULTURE LEARNING

Marines must be committed to continuous culture learning so they are effective at navigating and influencing the culturally complex 21st century operating environment in support of the Marine Corps' missions and requirements. A career-long study of culture prepares Marines to better understand, operate in, and when possible, favorably influence the operational environment.

COULTURAL AWARENESS

Military cultural awareness is defined as a knowledge of cultural factors and a comprehension of their impact on the planning and conduct of military operations. Cultural awareness: •Reduces battlefield friction and can improve a unit's ability to accomplish its mission. •Gives insight into the intent of various actors within our battlespace and the way these actors interact within groups. •Supports planners in developing centers of gravity to ascertain critical vulnerabilities. •Assists in campaign planning and the proper allocation of resource

POLITICAL STRUCTURE

Political structure is defined as the way that power and leadership are apportioned to people, and exercised, according to the social structure of the society. Politics works differently for each individual culture. For example, the way that a culture group determines who has power and control and how that power is legitimized and exerted can vary between cultures. To understand the political structures and relations in an AO, Marines need to distinguish between the concepts of power and authority: •Power is the ability to control or influence the behavior of individuals or groups of people. •Authority is the legal or popularly granted permission to exercise power. It is legitimacy in the exercise of power.

OPERATIONAL CULTURE

The Marine Corps defines operational culture as the aspects of culture that influence the outcome of a military operation and, conversely, military actions that influence the culture within an area of operations. Operational culture can be used by Marines to better understand an area of operations (AO) and to plan and execute across the operational spectrum. Culture affects military operations regardless of where the operation is located. Operational culture consists of operationally relevant behavior, relationships and perceptions of: •Indigenous security forces against or with whom Marines operate •Civilian populations among whom Marines operate •Indigenous communities or groups whom Marines wish to influence •International partners in coalition operations

CULTURAL STUDIES

The objective of cultural studies is to achieve the ability to effectively communicate our message throughout the levels of operation to our target audience. The Marine Corps Small Wars Manual, published in the 1940s, specifically states that Marines must be mindful of three fundamental considerations: •Social customs such as class distinctions, dress, and similar items should be recognized and receive due consideration. •Political affiliations or the appearance of political favoritism should be avoided; while a thorough knowledge of the political situation is essential, strict neutrality in such matters should be observed. •One should always have respect for religious customs. These considerations emphasize the need for U.S. military units to attain a familiarity of, and respect for, the local culture, including its language, political and social structure, and economic factors to prevent unintentionally creating a hostile environment and to promote "the spirit of good will."

THE FIVE OPERATIONAL CULTURE DIMENSIONS

physical environment economy social structure political structure belief system