Military Culture
One Officer’s Perspective
MICHAEL D CARTNEY
Colonel (USAF, Retired)
14 Aug 2012
Agenda
• Purpose
• Differences between the services
• Cartney’s military life
• Coming home
• Accessing Healthcare
• Helpful tips and thoughts
Are you ready for some ACRONYMS?
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Basic Training – Military Culture
Understanding the
nature of the military
culture, combat and the
stresses of living and
working in a war zone
are critical to
establishing credibility
with your clients.
3
Basic Training – Military Culture
• Army
– Army National Guard
• Navy
• Marine Corps
• Air Force
– Air National Guard
• Coast Guard*
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Basic Training – Military Culture
• Another view…
•
•
•
•
Active
Guard
Reserve
Veteran..?
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Basic Training – Military Culture
What do you call them?
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Marine = Marine
Navy = Sailors
Army = Soldiers
Air Force = Airmen/Airwomen
Coast Guard = Coast Guard - “Coasties” or Guardians
National Guard = The Guard
Reserve = Reservist
When is doubt – Sir or Ma’am will do just fine.
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Basic Training – Military Culture
• 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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Basic Training – Military Culture
• 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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Basic Training – Military Culture
• Marine Corps – active and reserve
component
• Primary mission is to seizure/defense
of naval bases.
• Highly competent land force
• Officers and enlisted rigidly separated
for discipline and “C2” purposes
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Basic Training – Military Culture
• Air Force
– 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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Basic Training – Military Culture
• Coast Guard
- During peacetime, part of DHS
charged with protecting public and the
environment
- Has maritime and customs
responsibilities during wartime
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Cartney’s Military Experience
• 30 Year’s Active Duty
• USAF Academy Grad, Purdue, International
Command and Staff College, Air War College,
Harvard University
• War on Drugs, Cold War, Bosnia, Kosovo,
Desert Storm, OIF, OEF, Afghanistan
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Understanding Time and Space
Military Timelines
Life Events
Significance
Entered Air Force Academy
1977
Grandfather passed away the day As a health care
I entered
provider serving
Veterans, your ability
Graduated in 1981 – sent to Married 1983 (Anniversary in
to understand the
Pentagon first assignment
May, Wife’s DOB May). Two
significance of time
Children
and space with
Moved 19 times in 30 years Towards middle of career
respect to life events
military changed policy to avoid
will serve you well in
moving members during school
understanding the
year. Son went to MULTIPLE
stresses faced by
Schools
today’s veterans
“DRUG” Deployment
Almost missed Daughter’s
Wedding/Missed
Granddaughter’s birth
Deployments and Battle
Staff
Missed births of all my
grandchildren. Missed
Christmases/B-days/etc
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Coming Home
Despite the excitement and relief of coming home, many
(most?) service members have some difficulties returning
home from a combat deployment.
My personal experiences:
1. Many keys events were missed and can never be
recreated.
2. Injuries
3. Wife’s reaction
4. Sleep patterns are permanently disrupted
5. Spouse and children impacts similar
6. Long term security clearances
Coming Home
WAR HAS CHANGED!!!
• The blurring of battlefield and home…
• The changes in war and combatants
• Kill or be killed combat…
• The changes in technology – “home” anytime
• Injuries versus casualties
• Operation Clean Exit
Accessing Health Care
• On Active Duty, accessing health care is easy and no cost
concerns.
• So good I had basic questions on prescriptions when I
retired
• For Guard and Reserve:
• during deployments, accessing health care is easy.
Troop Medical Clinics (TMCs) are readily available.
Most TMCs offer a full range of outpatient services.
• On Reserve duty and post-mobilization (deployment),
accessing health care can be *extremely* difficult and
frustrating.
Accessing Health Care
Things YOU can do:
1. Understand TRI-CARE and how a Guard/Reservist/Retiree accesses
it.
2. Be conversant (if not fluent) on what a Line-of-Duty (LOD) medical
event is.
• What paperwork is needed to get treatment and payment?
• Who fills out the paper work?
• Where is the paperwork sent?
3. Get to know the VA and TRI-CARE reps in your area.
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
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5 Words You Should Never Say
“Did you ever kill anyone?”
5 Words You Should Always Say
“Thank you for your service.”
Other Tips
• Acronyms
– For the military they are a second language
– Stop and ask them what it is
– Do not ask what it stands for…
• You may not understand that either!!
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Resources
1. Your local Reserve or Nat’l Guard Unit – meet them, visit with
them, get to know the commander and the full-time administrative
staff
2. On-line Training Module by:
Patricia J. Watson, PhD
Executive Division, National Center for PTSD
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/flash-files/Military_Culture/player.html