Photo By Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin | Hamid Lellou, CENTCOM/AFRICOM analyst, I Marine Expeditionary Force, educates Marines...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Becoming culturally savvy for their upcoming deployment was a priority for Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 11, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, who participated in an Operational Culture General Course here, March 30.
Normally, deploying units would take a Center for Advanced Operational Culture Course, which would educate service members about the cultures strictly directed to the country they plan on deploying to, but Marine Expeditionary Units have multiple destinations throughout the world encountering many different cultures. The Operational Culture General Course fulfills their broad educational requirements for such a deployment.
“What we teach in the [Operational Cultural General Course] can be applied anywhere,” said Hamid Lellou, United States Central Command/United States African Command analyst, I Marine Expeditionary Force. “It gives the Marines tools to understand a culture by asking themselves two questions: How do I affect them? How do they affect me?”
There are some characteristics that are common to each culture, which are known as the five dimensions of operational culture: environmental, economic, social structure, political structure and belief system. The entire course is based off of these dimensions.
Environment is a key dimension of culture because people adapt their way of living to their local surroundings. Economy is another characteristic of culture in which the nationals obtain, produce and distribute items they want or need to survive. People around the world have different roles, status or power, which affect their social structure in different cultures. Beliefs are shared by the community, they are not always based off religion but by history, family, education and cultural experience.
“Each one of these dimensions affect one another,” said Lellou, an instructor for the course. “You can’t help people by trying to change their culture.”
Each of the dimensions taught have key points that will help service members in critical situations. They can determine how to act and communicate with locals in social gatherings, events and congregations.
This course is very important to units who are about to deploy, said Dave Harlan, Liaison Officer, CAOCL, I Marine Expeditionary Force.
“Every deploying unit is required to take the CAOCL course,” said Harlan.
“The course has a lot of good information,” said Staff Sgt. Fernando Ramos, warehouse chief, Supply Detachment, CLB-11, CLR-17, 1st MLG. “It will be helpful for the Marines, especially the ones who haven’t deployed.”
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2011 12:27 |
| Story ID: | 68745 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 122 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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