Destinee Lewis

CIS110_023
A Look Inside the Military Culture (Rough Draft)

Depending on what culture a person claims, has a lifetime effect on their thought process, and
perception. The culture I will discuss is that of the military. In this paper I will hit the key points of core
values, morals, what is important to them, and in what ways the military impacts their life as a whole.
The military consist of five different branches, all of which function in separate ways. Different
languages, different missions, and different ways of living all form the culture into what it is today. The
military is more than a lifestyle it is a culture that takes years to develop and form. To ingrain in the
body and soul, and not to just become a habit or a hobby. The military has evolved over centuries just as
any other culture and will continue to direct the lives of the people apart of it.
The military culture has its own way of living. People in the military walk, talk, eat, and breathe
differently from any other group of people in the country. They are bread to move and act a certain way,
trained to fight and serve their country. They are taught to put their country before themselves as they
serve under the flag that represents the freedom of their country. They are taught with discipline and an
iron fist. Excellence is all we do! This is what they say in the Air Force, and what they believe in. While
the government has laws set for the country to live by, those in the military live by the same laws, as
well as, laws set for them in the force. They are set to a higher standard and they set the standards. This
culture has an effect on people by changing the way they view life. Loosing this aspect in their life would
be like losing themselves.
People in the military culture compared to those not in the culture have huge differences. The
number one difference is how they were trained for their current job. There are also minor differences
about when they wear, what they wear it, how they tell time, how they feel about working out, and
other sections that make cultures different. The military life is not easy to adjust to it takes a lot of time
and patients in order to blend in this culture. You can be born into it or you can join it as a late bloomer,
it is not a discriminating sect, anyone of any kind can join. It is a culture that alters your appearance,
whether it is your weight or hair length, in a couple of months you will look different from before you
joined to after you joined.
Languages in all cultures separate them form others and in the military the same rules apply.
People in this culture use a lot of acronyms when having a conversation with one another, but often
times need to explain the meanings to others not in the culture. In the Air Force some of these
acronyms are PFA, PT, and AFOQT. Physical fitness assessment, physical training, and Air Force Officer
Qualifier test are what those three acronyms stand for, and after a while can get annoying saying them
full out. Therefore acronyms as such are created as a part of their language to make communication
simpler. Cadets/soldiers use these everyday terms without thought, it has become secondary to them
and is a part of their language.
Morals in the military are given more attention and lived by. Honesty and respect are two of the
most respected values and are more than likely put above everything. A normal civilian wouldnt think
twice about telling a little white lie or showing respect to an elder. A cadet/soldier on the other hand

would think twice, they would even think three and four times. Being honest and respectful is second
nature and once built, it is a strong habit to break. In this culture, people take pride in what they stand
for. Honesty, loyalty, and respect are all things that each branch has in common. Core values are set as a
standard, and those within the culture are expected to exceed that standard. They are instructed to lead
by example, and be a model for those not a part of the culture.
Clothing is a big part of a culture, and the military is no different. All branches have a different
uniform for different types of events. For example, in the Air Force, for formal events the uniform of
choice is service dress. This uniform consist of a long sleeve service jacket and blue button up shirt, and
long blue slacks. Females have the option of wearing a blue skirt and black short heel pumps. For semiformal events, Airmen wear short sleeve shirts, slacks, and a light-weight blue jacket, this jacket is a part
of the uniform. For more casual events, Airmen wear ABUs. This acronym stands for Airmen Battle
Uniforms, the most comfortable of all the uniforms in my opinion. When it comes to uniform wear, the
military culture pays great attention to detail. Unlike civilian clothing, everything on a military uniform
must be pristine and measured properly. Uniformity plays a major part in having a uniform. It is issued
to make everyone look the same it is also issued to build up discipline.
Appearance is another major aspect of culture, it is the first thing that separates you from
other cultures and makes it easy to identify you. When joining the military there are a lot of rules and
regulations that you have to follow, especially when wearing the uniform. For male and females hair is a
major regulation. It must be your natural hair color and a certain length. Jewelry can also be problematic
when in uniform. When it comes to physical appearance shape and size does matter, as well as, physical
ability. When joining and being a part of this culture, the weight to height ratio does matter and needs
to be maintained. A physical fitness assessment will be administered every couple of months and to
continue in the service you must meet the minimum requirements.
As stated earlier, there are five different branches that make up the military. Although they are
ran by similar beliefs, they are different beyond compare. Different jobs call for different skill types,
different equipment calls for different knowledge. They come together to form this culture, and without
one, the culture as a whole would not be the same. Each branch has their own procedures and way of
living. When viewing the military as a culture, each branch can be viewed as a different sect or level. The
branches of the military have different missions, but they all are working towards the same goal. They all
strive to protect the United States on land, at sea, and in the skies; they also protect United States
territory and the public.
The first branch I would like to discuss is the United States Army. This branch is the oldest of all
five branches. It serves as a security force by protecting the countrys resources. It also strives to win the
countrys battles across the land. They live by a cadet creed that all people in the army know by heart.
The Army has many different operations that they work in order to carry out their mission. Their core
values can be remembered by the acronym LDRSHIP. This stands for: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless
Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. They have their own special language for moving their
group of people. They call them platoons or companies, depending on the amount of people they have.
The next branch I will discuss is the United States Navy. Their goal is to protect the United States
freedom of travel and trade over the seas. They send supplies by sea travel to the United States troops
and their allies. They are in charge of protecting coastal waters and sea lanes, they also work in
developing new technology for all forces. The Navys song is entitle Anchors Away.

The United States Marines is the third branch in the military. This branch focuses on the security
of the land and Naval forces. This branch is a part of the Navy and operates with them when it comes to
certain operations. They serve as a security force for the Navy. The United States Marines do both air
and ground operations. The Marine Corps song can be referred to as the Marine Corps Hymn.
Another branch of the United States Military is the Coast Guard. This branch is responsible for
the protection of the public and any economic affairs the United States takes part in. They are also
responsible for protecting the ports and waterways the United States mark as territory.
The final branch of the military is the United States Air Force. Their mission is to fly, fight, and
win in aerospace and cyberspace. In order to carry out this mission they develop airmen, and war
technology.
Along with being in the military, there are different levels to being associated with the military.
You could be enlisted or an officer, which requires a high school or college degree. You could be in
college in the ROTC program, ROTC standing for Reserved Officer Training Corps. You can also be in high
school in the Junior ROTC program. All levels or status are a part of the military culture they are like
subsects with in the sects already established between the different branches of the military. Being in
ROTC or JROTC you are just being exposed to the military culture. There is less of a commitment and
more of an informational view point on things. The focus of these programs are to help young citizens
decide if this culture is something they want to be a part of and make their own.
Young people in these ROTC programs, whether in college or in high school, are compared
similar to those already in the military. When in school they show the discipline that majority of the
students do not have. They, just like people in the military, are held to a high standard and expected to
lead by example. These students pay attention to detail and strive for the best. They take their school
work seriously and practice good time management skills, balancing school and ROTC. These cadets,
when in the military atmosphere, are not regular students. They are trained and held accountable for
certain actions as if they were already in the military. This training changes the way they act, think, and
perceive certain actions. This training at a young age shapes them to be different from their peers, even
if they do not join the military they will still be a part of the culture.
*I know I need to add more. I still have to incorporate my interviews, conclusion, and finish a couple
paragraphs.*