Military Social Work Culture, Customs, and Traditions

Catalog description

This course will provide students with an understanding of two key areas of competency when engaging with military personnel and Veterans. These areas include an understanding of military culture as well as the strengths and risks of the military lifestyle throughout the lifespan of the military member and Veteran. The course stresses the importance of attending to the interrelatedness of contextual factors in the study of human behavior and how military culture and experience impact these factors. Command structure, core traditions and their meanings, values, and language will be explored universally, as well as within each service branch. Students will learn how the military builds identity and cohesion, through training, and indoctrination. Awareness of social stigmas associated within military/civilian systems will be developed. Internal diversity issues, marginalization, and developmental stage concerns of this population will be addressed. Students will also examine the strengths and risk of a military lifestlye on members, Veterans, and their families. Students will become proficient in understanding the effects of serving during different eras so that they can engage with veterans and military members across the lifespan. Institutional Theory and Convergence Theory principles will be analyzed, providing a framework for ethical differences in civilian versus military attitudes and behavior.