The Need for Cross-Cultural Competence (3C)

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The Need for Cross-Cultural Competence (3C)
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Overview

• Introductory Video
• What is Culture
• Cross-Cultural Competence (3C)
• Why Understanding Culture is Important

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Introductory Video
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What is Culture?
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What is Culture?

• Tylors Definition
• that complex whole which includes knowledge,
  belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other
  capabilities and habits acquired by man as a
  member of society.

• As applied to areas of the world to be conquered
  and colonized
• We have culture and you dont!
• Civilized vs. Uncivilized

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Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism

• Ethnocentrists see their culture as best and by
  default measure all other cultures by their own
  standard
• Cultural Relativists are open to trying to
  understand different cultures within the context
  of that particular culture

Thought Question Can Airmen always be
cultural relativists?
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Building our Definition of Culture

• Culture
• is a state of mind
• involves affiliation
• is a tool
• is made up of domains

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Building our Definition of Culture

• Characteristics of Culture
• Learned and shared
• Symbolic
• Holistic
• Influences and is influenced

So when we add all this together we get
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Our Definition
Culture is the creation, maintenance, and
transformation across generations of semi-shared
patterns of meaning, sense-making, affiliation,
action, and organization by groups - Air
Force Culture and Language Center
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What is Competence?
Having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge,
experience, etc., for some purpose properly
qualified. Random House
Dictionary

• How do we know someone is competent?

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Understanding Competence Becoming an AF Pilot

• AFOQT
• Physical Requirements
• AF Undergraduate Pilot Training (academics)

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Understanding Competence Becoming an AF Pilot

• Flight Training
• Operational Aircraft Training and Qualification

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Cross-Cultural Competence
The ability to quickly and accurately
comprehend, then appropriately and effectively
act in a culturally complex environment to
achieve the desired effect.
But developing 3C is also a process
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Cross-Cultural Competence

• Culture-General
• Knowing- what is culture
• Understanding foundational concepts of culture
• Developing basic skills in dealing with different
  cultures
• Culture-Specific
• Becoming familiar with regionally specific
  knowledge and language that will orient you to
  various cultures

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Why Understanding Culture is Important

• It helps you become The Other
• It is a force multiplier
• It is a means of building stable institutions

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Other

• Being The Other
• When you deploy, you are defined by the natives
  as The Other
• Usually a very narrow definition American
  Military
• Becoming The Other
• You see yourself as the other person sees you

When two people meet, there are really six
people present. There is each man as he sees
himself, each man as he wants to be seen, and
each man as he really is.
Michael De Saintamo
Each man as the other sees him
How does this happen?
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An Example of Being The Other and Becoming The
Other Joining the Military
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Becoming The Other

• You look at yourself through the natives
• cultural lens
• You become less ethnocentric and more
• cultural relative
• You can better adapt your words and actions

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Culture as a Force Multiplier

• A capability that, when added to and employed by
  a combat force, significantly increases the
  combat potential of that force
• Geographical terrain vs. human terrain
• Many hands make light work

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Building Stable Institutions

• One of our goalsAssist people caught in conflict
  to develop stable institutions (e.g., political,
  social, economic, etc.)
• US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Leverages
  relationships between security, development,
  diplomacy, and prosperity enables DOD to focus
  its resources tohelp African nations, the
  African Union, and the regional economic
  communities succeed.

we are helping the long-suffering people of
that country to build a decent and democratic
society President
George W. Bush, Sep 2003
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The Bottom Line on 3C

• Developing and enhancing your 3C abilities will
  help promote better relations with foreign
  cultures and coalition partners, and will
  ultimately help you exert positive influence in
  culturally complex situations

Cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity
arebasic survival skills for almost everyone.
Craig Storti, cross- cultural author and
trainer
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Summary

• Introductory Video
• What is Culture
• Cross-Cultural Competence (3C)
• Why Understanding Culture is Important