National Service Guide
to Military Cultural
Competency
Michael Brown
Koby Langley
Margie Legowski
January 24, 2013
www.serviceandinclusion.org
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National Service Guide to
Military Cultural Competency
Michael Brown
Koby Langley
Margie Legowski
January 24, 2013
Operation ABLE Community
The Corporation for National and
Community Service (CNCS) is embarking
on OAC, a pilot to demonstrate the
benefits of a National Service experience
for veterans with disabilities who are reentering civilian life. National Service can
provide direction and purpose, allowing
veterans to continue contributing their
skills and expertise to improving lives.
The Crafting of a Veteran
Michael Brown
• Why I joined
• Military Career
• Education
• Current
What is a Veteran?
What is a Veteran?
“Someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check
made payable to 'The United States of America' for an
amount of 'up to and including my life”. - Unknown
The Department of Veterans Affairs Defines it as:
“Veteran means a person who served in the active military,
naval, or air service and who was discharged or released
under conditions other than dishonorable.”
(VHA HANDBOOK 1601A.02)
Branches of the U.S.
Armed Services
Branch:
• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marine Corps
• Navy
Nick Name:
Airman
Soldier
Guardians
Marine
Sailor
Other:
• Military Personnel
• Dependents
Service Members
Family Members
AIRFORCE
Born: 1947
Primary mission:
To defend the U.S.
(and its interests)
through exploitation of
air and space
ARMY
Born: 1775
Primary Mission:
To protect and defend
the U.S. (and its
interests) by way of
ground troops, armor
(tanks), artillery, attack
helicopters, tactical
nuclear weapons, etc
COAST GUARD
Born: 1790
Primary Mission:
To provide law
enforcement, boating
safety, sea rescue, and
illegal immigration
control. However, the
President of the U.S. can
transfer part or all of the
Coast Guard to the
Department of the Navy
in times of conflict
MARINE CORPS
Born: 1775
Primary Mission:
To assault, capture,
and control "beach
heads," which then
provide a route to
attack the enemy from
almost any direction
NAVY
Born: 1775
Primary Mission:
To maintain the
freedom of the seas
NATIONAL GUARD &
AIR NATIONAL GUARD
What’s the Difference?
• Active Duty- 8 year contract, 3 year
minimum full-time
• Reserves- Active/Inactive Ready
Reserves (IRR)
• National Guard/Air National Guard
Personnel
There are three types
of employees for the
Armed Forces:
• Officer- Management
• Enlisted- General
Workforce
• Reservist- Part-time
Workers/On Call
It Starts with a Reason…
The Lifestyle You Knew
Exists No More
• Boot camp
• Customs
• Uniforms
• Language
A New Beginning…
Terminology & Acronyms
• Deck
• Bulkhead
• Scuttlebutt
• Head
• Leave
• Rank
• Chain of Command
http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/dod_dictionary/
Terminology & Acronyms, Cont.
• OIF
• MOS/Rate
• OEF
• IED
• GWOT
• DD-214
• UCMJ
Deployment Cycle
Preparing for Deployment
Deployment
Post-Deployment
Typical National Service
Member Cycle
Warning:
Content may be disturbing or harmful to those who
have experienced combat or other trauma. The following slides are
courtesy of Cornell University, Disability Services Office.
A service member
coming home may
experience…
Common Disabilities and
Challenges of this Conflict
• PTSD/MST
• Body disfigurement
• TBI
• Back, shoulder and knee pain
• Impaired vision/Blind
• Suicide
• Hearing loss/Tinnitus
• Unemployment
• Loss of limb
• Stigma
Common Functional Limitations
of PTSD
• Detachment, loss of
interest, numbing
• Hyper vigilance
• Concentration issues
• Anger outbursts
• Intense guilt
• Memory deficits
• Avoidance behaviors
• “Thousand mile stare”
• Flashbacks
• Sleep issues/night terrors
Common Functional
Limitations of TBI
• Difficulty learning and synthesizing new
information
• Decreased Processing Speed
• Working memory deficiencies
• Long and short term memory deficiencies
• Poor decision making /problem solving skills
• Unaware of difficulties
• Inability to focus and concentrate
• Fatigue
Common Stereotypes
About Veterans
•
•
•
•
•
•
All Veterans are in crisis
All Veterans can obtain VA services
All Veterans have served in combat
You have to be in combat to have PTSD
Veterans are angry
Veterans are men
Best Practices
• Educate yourself on the military
• Be aware of mental health challenges and be
knowledgeable of where to refer if needed
• Understand that the transition back into civilian
life is again another culture shock and the more
structured the program the better the Veteran
will do
• If certain steps need to be taken, have a list of
the steps for the Veteran to follow and have
point of contacts for them to reach out to
• Actively listen to the Veteran’s needs Motivational Interviewing (OARS)
• Identify the chain of command
Best Practices, Cont.
• Educate the Veteran on what services you offer and
how the Veteran (and family) will benefit from your
program
• Be straight up, if your program will not fit their’
needs let them know
• Become acquainted with Veteran resources in the
community these take many forms
– DAV, VA, Student Veteran Organizations,
American Legion, VFW
• Keep in mind that accommodations may be needed
but the Veteran will be apprehensive about asking
• Give the Veteran an opportunity to lead
• Create a Veterans mentorship group
• Lastly, do not talk about military service unless
there are certain questions that need to be
answered or the Veteran brings it up in
conversation
This presentation is dedicated to those
who served their country and paid the
ultimate price for our freedom.
May the memory of them and their
sacrifices never be forgotten:
Adam Smith
Timothy Gibson
Kyle Paulson
Alex Ghane
Robert Macrum
Thomas Hull