ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to explore the existing types of role identity which constitute reference points for the discussion on the role expectations faced by CIMIC soldiers. It provides an overview of two traditional types of military identity – the “warrior”, resulting from participation in war, and the “peacekeeper”, rooted in the context of peace support operations. Two case studies are used to depict these role identities: the Polish Grom and the Italian Alpini. Following that, the chapter investigates the civilian role identity of a “humanitarian” shaped in the context of provision of aid. The chapter then discusses the cross-boundary nature of the military and the resultant role conflict and revisits the concept of ambidexterity in terms of different ways of establishing and forming relationships (such as bonding and bridging) and different types of trust. In this way, the chapter sets the scene for an in-depth exploration of the norms and values that are to guide the expected behaviour of CIMIC soldiers.
