Adoptable Afghan Customs or Practices in a Military Operations Environment

Abstract

Abstract : Cultural awareness is a force multiplier; failure to recognize this can have adverse impacts on operations. Since the first coalition troop deployments to Afghanistan after the events of 9/11, the U.S. Army has received much criticism over the lack of cultural preparedness of its troops. Soldiers at all levels need to demonstrate cultural awareness and cultural understanding in order to avoid alienating and making new enemies among the local population. The U.S. Armed Forces acknowledged the importance when it opened the Marine Corps Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning in Quantico, Virginia in 2005 and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Culture Center at Fort Huachuca, Arizona in 2006. It also established the Human Terrain System and began deploying Human Terrain Teams to Afghanistan and Iraq in the fall of 2006. Composed primarily of cultural specialists such as civilian anthropologists and cultural analysts, these teams augment the cultural awareness and cultural understanding at the tactical and operational levels for the U.S. combat brigades. Coalition troops (including Special Forces groups) deployed to Afghanistan have found that by adopting certain aspects of Afghan culture, such as learning the language, adopting the Afghan notion of time and using Afghan methods of communication, they can more easily decrease tensions, stimulate the exchange of communication, and build cultural bonds with the local population. This monograph will elaborate on these and other attempts to honor local Afghan cultural customs and/or symbols, through adoption in a military operations environment.