CIS110_023

Exploring the
Culture of the
Military
WORD COUNT: 2,456

Destinee Lewis
11-2-2014

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Abstract

In this paper I will discuss the Military Culture. I will compare people a part of
the culture to those who are outside of it. I will go in depth on the different branches of
the military and explain what factors separate them from the rest. After reading my
paper, you will understand a little more about the culture of the military and what it
means to be involved with it. I will discuss the different viewpoints of ROTC cadets and
those enlisted in the military. Reading this paper, you will see that the military is just
like every other culture. They pay close attention to their uniform wear, language, and
how they carry themselves. You will also learn that the military is a culture developed
over centuries that has an everlasting effect on those a part of it.

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For centuries the military culture has put an

everlasting effect on peoples lives. It has a lifetime
effect on how they think, and view certain
situations. The culture that I am discussing is one of
the most diverse and developed cultures of todays
time. In this paper I will touch on the importance of

core values, morals, missions, and in

Figure 1(1775 Military Men)

what ways the

military impacts peoples life as a whole. The military consist of five different branches,
all of which function in separate ways. Different languages, different missions, and
different ways of living all form the culture into what it is today. The military is more
than just a lifestyle, it is a culture that takes years to develop and form. I becomes
ingrained in the body and soul of the person who selects this path, and is not to be
confused with a habit or hobby. The military has evolved over long periods of time just
as any other culture and will continue to direct the lives of the people who are a part of
it.
The military culture has its own way of living. People in the military walk, talk,
eat, and breathe differently from any other culture in the world. They are bred by
seniors in this culture to move and act a certain way, trained to fight and serve their
country. They are taught to put their country before themselves as they serve under the

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flag that represents the freedom of their country. They are taught with discipline and an
iron fist. Excellence in all we do! The last of the three core values in the Air Force,
according to my experience in Air Force ROTC, this is what every Airman believes in.
The government sets laws for the country to obey. People in the military are expected to
live by the same regulations, as well as, others set for them. They are set to a higher
standard and they set the standards. This culture has an effect on people by changing
the way they view life. Losing this aspect in their life would be like losing themselves.
The military culture compared to others have major dissimilarities. The number
one difference is how they were trained for their current job. There is also minor
differences about what they wear, when they wear it, how they tell time, their
motivation to work out, and other sections that make cultures different. The military life
is not an easy adjustment, it takes time and preparation to blend into this culture. You
can be born into it or you can join it as a late bloomer, it is not a discriminating sect,
anyone of any kind can join. It is a culture that alters your appearance, whether it is
your weight or hair length, in a couple of months you will look different from before
you joined to after you joined.
Languages in all cultures separate themselves from others and in the military the
same rules apply. People in this culture use a lot of acronyms when having a
conversation with one another, but often times need to explain the meanings to others
not in the culture. In the Air Force some of these acronyms are PFA, PT, and AFOQT.
Physical fitness assessment, physical training, and Air Force Officer Qualifier Test are

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the meanings of these three acronyms. After a while it can get annoying saying them
full out; therefore, acronyms as such are created as a part of their language to make
communication simpler. Cadets/soldiers use these everyday terms without thought, it
has become secondary to them and is a part of their language.
Morals in the military are given
more attention and lived by. Honesty and
respect are two of the most respected
values and are more than likely put above
everything. A normal civilian wouldnt
think twice about telling a little white lie

Figure 2(West Point cadet saluting commander in chief)

or

showing respect to an elder. A cadet/soldier on the other hand would think twice, they
would even think three and four times. Being honest and respectful is second nature
and once built, it is a strong habit to break. In this culture, people take pride in what
they stand for. Honesty, loyalty, and respect are all things that each branch has in
common. Core values are set as a standard, and those within the culture are expected to
exceed that standard. They are instructed to lead by example, and be a model for those
not a part of the culture.
Clothing is a big part of a culture, and the military is no different. All branches
have a different uniform for different types of events. For example, in the Air Force, for
formal events the uniform of choice is service dress. This uniform consist of a long
sleeve service jacket and blue button up shirt, and long blue slacks. Females have the

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option of wearing a blue skirt and black short heel pumps. For semi-formal events,
Airmen wear short sleeve shirts, slacks, and a light-weight blue jacket, this jacket is a
part of the uniform. For more casual events, Airmen wear ABUs. This acronym stands
for Airmen Battle Uniforms, the most comfortable of all the uniforms in my opinion.
When it comes to uniform wear, the military culture pays great attention to detail.
Unlike civilian clothing, everything on a military uniform must be pristine and
measured properly. Uniformity plays a major part in having a uniform. It is issued to
make everyone look the same. The many factors to wearing a uniform is to help a
person in the culture develop self-discipline. General George S. Patton, Jr stated, If you
can't get them to salute when they should salute and wear the clothes you tell them to
wear, how are you going to get them to die for their country?
Appearance is another major aspect of culture, it is the first thing that separates
you from other cultures and makes it easy to identify you. When joining the military
there are a lot of rules and regulations
that you have to follow, especially when
wearing the uniform. For male and
females hair is a major regulation. It
must be your natural hair color and a
certain length. Jewelry can also be
problematic when in uniform. When it

Figure 1(Battle Dress Uniforms of the five branches)

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comes to physical appearance shape and size does matter, as well as, physical ability.
When joining and becoming a part of this culture, the weight to height ratio does matter
and needs to be maintained. A physical fitness assessment will be administered every
couple of months and to continue in the service, you must meet the minimum
requirements.
Reaffirming, there are five different branches that make up the military.
Although they are ran by similar beliefs, they are different beyond compare. Different
jobs call for different skill types, different equipment calls for different knowledge. They
come together to form this culture, and without one, the culture as a whole would not
be the same. Each branch has their own procedures and way of living. When viewing
the military as a culture, each branch can be viewed as a different sect or level. The
branches of the military have different missions, but they all are working towards the
same goal. They all strive to protect the United States on land, at sea, and in the skies;
they also protect United States territory and the public.
The first branch I would like to discuss is the United States Army. This branch is
the oldest of all five branches. It serves as a security force by protecting the countrys
resources. It also strives to win the countrys battles across the land. They live by a cadet
creed that all people in the army know by heart. The Army has many different
operations that they work in order to carry out their mission. Their core values can be
remembered by the acronym LDRSHIP. This stands for: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless
Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. They have their own special language

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for moving their group of people. They call them platoons or companies, depending on
the amount of people they have. There most casual uniform is referred to as an ACU,
short for Army Combat Uniform. In their language, hooah is the word of motivation. It
means everything but no.
The next branch I will discuss is the United States Navy. Their goal is to protect
the United States freedom of travel and trade over the seas. They send supplies by sea
travel to the United States troops and their allies. They are in charge of protecting
coastal waters and sea lanes, they also work in developing new technology for all
forces. The Navys song is entitle Anchors Away. When it comes to the Navy officer
ranks, their titles differ from the other branches. In other branches the highest ranking
officer is known as a general, in the Navy the highest ranking officer is called an
admiral. While going over the ranks in my Air Force ROTC, my instructor explained
how the Navys rank structure is different. He then went on to say that when talking
with someone enlisted in the Navy he would have to communicate that he was a
captain in the Air Force and not the navy.
The United States Marines is the third branch in the military. This branch focuses
on the security of the land and Naval forces. This branch is a part of the Navy and
operates with them when it comes to certain
operations. They serve as a security force for
the Navy. The United States Marines do
both air and ground operations. The Marine

Figure 2(Motivational terms of each Branch)

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Corps song can be referred to as the Marine Corps Hymn. They, like every other
branch, have their own motivational language. When discussing the different terms
used by the Marines after his interview, Poole Yancey stated two of them that caught
my ear. Oorah and kill are similar meaning terms but used in different situations. Just
as the Armys hooah, the marines say Oorah. Kill is a term used as encouragement. Do
well, or have a good day is referenced with the term kill.
Another branch of the United States Military is the Coast Guard. This branch is
responsible for the protection of the public and any economic affairs the United States
takes part in. They are also responsible for protecting the ports and waterways the
United States mark as territory. There rank structure is different from the other
branches, but similar to the Navy rank structure. They serve as a law enforcement when
the United States is not at war, but forms under them when in action. Those who are in
the Coast Guard are more equipped to the way the Navy lives their lives. Their
uniforms are the most unique even compared to the Navys. The coast guards most
recognizable uniforms are their all white uniforms and their battle uniforms look
different from the other branches. When it comes to their language they usually use the
same term as the navy, Hooyah.
The final branch of the military is the United States Air Force. Their mission is to
fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace. In order to carry out this mission they
develop airmen, and war technology. People in the Air Force, unlike in any other
branch, dont have multiple motivational terms. The only term they will yell to the top

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of their lungs is Air Power! Transforming from Army JROTC to Air Force ROTC, I
can say that the Air Force pays greater attention to detail. On their Airman Battle
Uniforms, the ranks are properly placed on the shoulders. This is different from the
ACUs in the army, which ranks are placed on the crest of the chest. When it comes to
the PFA, the minimal requirements are not as drastic as the Marines. When
interviewing Air Force Captain Cozad, he touched on the definitions of accountability
and responsibility. In the Air Force I would say those are key terms that Airmen live to
be.
Along with being in the military, there are different levels to being associated
with the military. You could be enlisted or an officer, which requires a high school or
college degree. You could be in college in the ROTC program, ROTC standing for
Reserved Officer Training Corps. You can also be in high school in the Junior ROTC
program. All levels or status are a part of the military culture they are like subsects with
in the sects already established between the different branches of the military. Being in
ROTC or JROTC you are just being exposed to the military culture. There is less of a
commitment and more of an informational view point on things. The focus of these
programs are to help young citizens decide if this culture is something they want to be a
part of and make their own.
Young people in these ROTC programs, whether in college or in high school, are
compared similar to those already in the military. When in school they show the
discipline that majority of the students do not have. They, just like people in the

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military, are held to a high standard and expected to lead by example. These students
pay attention to detail and strive for the best. According to C/Lt. Col. Berry, a ROTC/
JROTC cadet has more responsibility than a regular student. They take their school
work seriously and practice good time management skills, balancing school and ROTC.
These cadets, when in the military atmosphere, are not regular students. They are
trained and held accountable for certain actions as if they were already in the military.
This training changes the way they act, think, and perceive certain actions. They follow
the same rules in language. For example, ROTC cadets refer to the program as ROTC,
pronounced rot-cee. This training at a young age shapes them to be different from their
peers, even if they do not join the military they will still be a part of the culture.
In my final analysis of this culture, I have come to realize that the military culture
is just as complex and organized as the others around the world. This culture is divided
into different branches that all function differently for a similar cause. There is also
different levels that one can be involved with this culture. A person can be enlisted, or
enrolled into a JROTC/ROTC program. Inside the culture dress is very important,
pristine, and precise. Morals also mean a lot to those that represent this culture. The
main difference between a person in the military culture and someone outside of it, is
not the uniform, but mindset and what they are willing to do for others.

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Sources
Hsu, J. (2010, September 1). Overview of Military Culture. Retrieved October 8, 2014.

Goodale, R., & Abb, W. (n.d.). MILITARY CULTURE 101 Not One Culture, but Many
Cultures. Retrieved October 8, 2014.

Understanding Military Culture | VA Community Provider Toolkit. (n.d.). Retrieved

October 8, 2014.

Dunivin, K. (1997). Military culture: A paradigm shift? Maxell Air Force Base, Ala.: Air
War College :.

Greentree, D. (2014, May 26). Learn To Better Understand Military Culture. Retrieved
October 8, 2014.

Hudson Burns, D. (2014, January 1). Understanding How Military and Civilian Cultures
Differ. Retrieved October 8, 2014

Military Culture from Your Point of View [Personal interview]. (2014, 10)

Military Culture as a Cadet and an Enlisted [Interview]. (n.d.).

Military Culture as a Student and Cadet [Interview]. (n.d.).

President Obama Declares U.S. "Zero Civilian Casualty" Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved
November 4, 2014.

Info on Military Terms, Facts, and Meanings. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2014.

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