Cultural Intelligence Helps Veterans Re-adjustment to Civilian Life
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, military personnel experience several common challenges during the process of re-adjustment to civilian life. We will examine how developing Cultural Intelligence helps U.S. military personnel overcome five major challenges to successfully re-adjust to civilian life.
Military Culture
The military has a unique culture with distinct norms, values, beliefs and attitudes about time and work. For example, it has its own language, slang and abbreviations. The U.S. is commonly called a melting pot and the military is a true representation of that expression. People come from different backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, geographic regions, etc. and assimilate to the “new to them” military culture. Military culture becomes a part of their being after several years of service. Coming back to civilian culture, and assimilating to what can seem like a new way of living, is challenging for many. Cultural Intelligence, our ability to function effectively in diverse environments, can help military personnel address challenges and successfully re-adjust to civilian life.
1. Relating to people who do not know, or understand, the military experience
Developing Metacognitive Cultural Intelligence- our ability to acquire knowledge to better understand others- can help military personnel enhance their abilities to acquire the knowledge to better understand civilians, their behaviors and attitudes (towards work and time). Thus, they can adjust mental models and schemas to absorb knowledge about others with different experiences and backgrounds (civilians) including values, norms, beliefs and attitudes about time and work. Metacognitive Cultural Intelligence can improve service members’ interactions with people and re-adjustment to civilian life.
2. Joining or creating a community
The military helps active-duty service members and their families prepare for the adjustment process. However, when people leave the military, they and their families must adjust to the civilian lifestyle on their own. This process can be challenging, and Cultural Intelligence can help military personnel make needed adjustments.
Developing Motivational Cultural Intelligence- our willingness to learn about others- helps increase military personnel’s desire to learn about people with different backgrounds (e.g., civilians): their norms, values, beliefs, attitudes, etc.
Developing Metacognitive Cultural Intelligence increases military personnel’s abilities to better understand others. Thus, they can adjust mental models and schemas to absorb knowledge about others with different experiences and backgrounds (civilians) including values, norms, beliefs and attitudes about time and work.
Developing Behavioral Cultural Intelligence- our ability to effectively interact with others- allows military personnel to effectively interact with civilians and adjust behaviors and communication styles. Specifically, military personnel can adjust their verbal and non-verbal behaviors and communication styles to display appropriate behavior in civilian interactions.
Developing Cognitive Cultural Intelligence- our actual knowledge of norms, practices and conventions- helps military personnel learn the norms, values, beliefs, attitudes, etc. of civilians.
Thus, developing all components of Cultural Intelligence – Motivational, Metacognitive, Behavioral and Cognitive Cultural Intelligence – can help military personnel successfully re-join the civilian community.
3. Preparing to enter the workforce
The U.S. workforce is becoming more diverse. There are expectations from employers that future employees will successfully operate in this diverse environment. However, if not prepared, employees might face challenges such as conflict, perceptual problems (e.g., use of stereotypes), unconscious/implicit biases, perceptions of time, and attitudes towards work.
Developing all four dimensions of Cultural Intelligence- abilities to function effectively in diverse environments- will allow military personnel to minimize or eliminate these issues and prepare for successful careers in the private sector.
4. Adjusting to a different pace of life and work
In the private sector, civilians have different attitudes toward work and time. In the military, personnel do not leave until a mission is complete, while civilians might need to stop working and go home at 5:00 pm. Moreover, there is a new focus on mental health and well-being in the private sector. For example, employees might have more flexible work hours that appear more ambiguous and unstructured to military personnel.
Developing all four dimensions of Cultural Intelligence will allow military personnel to successfully adjust to changes in the structure of the workday, better understand and adjust to the attitudes toward work, and overall, better adjust to a different pace of life and work.
5. Differences in communication style
The difference in communication styles between military and civilians presents additional challenges for re-adjustment to civilian life. Military personnel tend to have a direct communication style. Many civilians might not respond positively to this type of communication; they might feel offended or feel disrespected. This direct style might be perceived as rude and inconsiderate.
Developing Behavioral Cultural Intelligence- the ability to effectively interact with others- will allow military personnel to adjust their verbal and non-verbal behaviors to display appropriate communication and better fit civilian interactions.
Benefits of Cultural Intelligence:
Developing Cultural Intelligence through assessment and training for military personnel can help develop a proactive strategy to:
- address five major challenges experienced by military personnel during re-adjustment to civilian life
- develop active skills that allow military personnel to adapt to continuously changing environments.
However, to enjoy the full benefits of Cultural intelligence, and optimize costs, and time of training, we need to understand the relationships among Motivational, Metacognitive, Behavioral, and Cognitive Cultural Intelligence.
The Model of Cultural Intelligence
My colleague Dr. Lova Randrianasolo and I have developed the Model of Cultural Intelligence that demonstrates how the dimensions of Cultural Intelligence are related. The Model emphasizes that Motivational Cultural Intelligence influences Metacognitive Cultural Intelligence, which, in turn, influences Behavioral Cultural Intelligence and Cognitive Cultural Intelligence. This interconnectedness highlights the intricate dynamics among our motivations, metacognitive processes, behavior and cognitive abilities, all of which shape our overall Cultural Intelligence.
Feel free to contact me at alexey.semenov@belmont.edu if you want to continue the conversation about Cultural Intelligence and how Cultural Intelligence can help veterans re-adjustment to civilian life.
