A New Angle on the US Military's Emphasis on Developing Cross-Cultural Competence

Part of the US military’s contemporary transformation focuses on enhancing cross-cultural competence (Selmeski 2007; Abbe et al. 2007). An emphasis on increasing the understanding of, and ability to interact effectively with, people from different regions (e.g., Middle-East, Africa, Asia, etc.) helps explain the litany of emerging cultural programs and initiatives in the military. One example of this ongoing transformation is the Culture Center located at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, which provides culture education and training for the Army and other military services. ² Several other programs, such as the culture centers rising in each of the US military services, as well as myriad other Army programs and initiatives (e.g., Human Terrain Teams, Red Teams, a growing Interpreter Program, etc.), illustrate other examples.