Cultural Revolution: Making In-depth Language & Culture Study a Requirement for All

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Subject: Cultural Revolution: Making In-depth Language & Culture Study a Requirement for All
SCCOMarine 8/1/2008 5:03:00 PM

Career Marine Regional Studies Program (CMRS) This was the Program that I wrote about last yr that was just a concept in development at the time, it has now begun implementation. This is the program that will require All Marines E5/Sgt & Above to be assigned to study the Language, Terrain, and Culture of 1 of 17 Micro-Regions (previously 24) around the world to eventually become Regional Area Experts over a period of 6-10 yrs. Just like MCMAP, this program counts towards Promotion and is designed to shape Career Progression in the Corps. Also like MCMAP it's a comprehensive Course of Study designed more to weed out the Non-Hackers & raise the ability of the Corps as a whole than to put a Bruce Lee & UN Ambassador in every squad.

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SCCOMarine 8/1/2008 8:11:55 PM

Officers

As Boot 2nd Lt's they will start the program in TBS, which is right after OCS. TBS, The Basic School is a six month Infantry & Small Unit Tactics School required for all Marine Officers regardless of MOS. The Meat of the Program begins at 1st Lt and will be expected to complete the program by the time the Marine is in the Zone for Major; a period of about 6 or 7 years.

Enlisted

On the enlisted side, all E-5/Sgt's starting their 2nd enlistment will be assigned a Micro-Region and Language at Sergeant's Course. Enlisted Marines will be expected to complete the course by the time they are in the Selection Zone for E-7/Gunnery Sgt; also a period of about 6 or 7yrs.

The Program

In both TBS & Sergeant's Course the Marines are introduced to cultural concepts and their application in military operations, which is refered to as Operational Culture. Operational Culture is defined by the Program as:

Those aspects of cultural knowledge information and skills most relevant to successful planning and execution of military operations across the spectrum of conflict, including pre-hostility/shaping operations; hostilities and post-hostilities, including reconstruction and stabilization operations; peace making and peace keeping; humanitarian assistance/disaster relief; and multi-national operations. Operational Culture is relevant to nearly all kinds of Marine operations.

In English, its an intro into the Concept of using Cultural Knowledge as a weapon to recognize & exploit threats & opportunities available to Small Unit Leaders. And how to do this within an overall Operational context. In other words keeping their tactical action in line w/the Operational goals.

This is followed by two 100 hour courses going further in-depth into their particular Region, Language, and how to use the Cultural Terrain & Physical Terrain to their advantage.

The program is completed about the same time both Enl. & Off's move fr/ Tactical Leaders to Operations Level Staff Personnel, Gunny & Major, forming US Marine Operational Staffs & Task Forces deep in both Cultural Knowledge & Exploitation fr/Regions all around the world.

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static 8/2/2008 12:17:39 AM

And here you had me all excited that all Marines would have to learn about 1970s-era Chinese politics. Chalk it up to being a poli sci major I guess.

Anyway I'm looking at OCS and TBS right now for the Corps, and I think that TBS is eight months instead of six. If you could find a Bruce Lee for every squad though that would be cool too.

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Horsesoldier 8/2/2008 12:50:46 AM

This is not special operations related. It should have been posted on the Marines board.

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SCCOMarine 8/2/2008 2:58:04 PM

This is not special operations related. It should have been posted on the Marines board.

This thread was a follow up on information that was discussed in another thread on this board fr/ a yr ago. Back then I said when there was more info on this Project then I'd post it...on this board...b/c thats where the interest originated.

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SCCOMarine 8/2/2008 3:36:38 PM

Anyway I'm looking at OCS and TBS right now for the Corps, and I think that TBS is eight months instead of six. If you could find a Bruce Lee for every squad though that would be cool too.

Didn't mean to short change TBS, just while writing I realized some wouldn't recognize the Initials or its purpose, so I referred back to info I had on it when I got out of active duty 3yrs ago which was 6mths in length.

As far as the BL reference when MCMAP was 1st introduced it was hard for some to distinguish btwn MCMAPs intended purpose, using MA as a vehicle to strengthen Mental, Physical, & Moral discipline, from the misunderstanding that the Marine Corps was trying to make squads of Karate fighters.

As time went on &ppl outside the Corps started to see the results of a comprehensive program, not one just made up of combatives, more ppl understood the Programs intent & the Karate squads crap died out.

Its the same w/ the CMRS, its a comprensive, long term program.

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SCCOMarine 8/2/2008 9:02:15 PM

And here you had me all excited that all Marines would have to learn about 1970s-era Chinese politics. Chalk it up to being a poli sci major I guess.

But K.I.M. that 200hrs of a combo of classroom & online instruction alone in lang, culture, history, & topography spread over 6+ yrs & multiple deployments is comparable to many college programs.

TECOM's Road Map gives a list of classes that can be added to transfer it to a 2 & 4yr degree in International Affairs.

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GOP 8/4/2008 12:13:50 AM

SCCO, what do you think of MCMAP? How much time is devoted weekly to H2H stuff in an average Combat arms unit in the Corps?

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ker 8/4/2008 5:11:09 PM

Will any attempt be made to place marines with certan area expertease in certan units, eather to give each unit a wide mix of the 17 areas or to concentrate people with the same or similar area knowlege in a unit?

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SCCOMarine 8/4/2008 9:52:38 PM

SCCO, what do you think of MCMAP? How much time is devoted weekly to H2H stuff in an average Combat arms unit in the Corps?

Well looking at it thru the lense that it was designed for, which is a system that the USMC uses as it primary means of developing Discipline, Core Values, Aggression, Initiative, and Mental, Physical, & Emotional Toughness as well as teaching & reinforcing effective and progressive Combatives; I think it does its job.

The MarineCorps uses MCMAP & its Combat Conditioning Drills to really punish students and play alot of mental games. Its not some cursory class in kicking & punching, its more similar to a RIP(Recon) or BUD/S session than a Karate class, which builds mental toughness.

The discipline & initiative is built thru pays to be a winner type exercises, along w/ having to remain committed to the program over mths&yrs of advancement. This builds long term initiative over time b/c the advancement courses are NOT fun & sustainment must be steady & recorded btwn belts to advance and advancement goes toward promotion.

As far as Combatives, instruction always comes after the CCX drills when your dead tired. And even though the majority of the techniques are learned in the early belts & reinforced over & over in the advanced belts, the Program is Progressive.

So as you advance & master the basics thru repetition, the later belts introduce & focus on Fight Strategy, Multiple Opponents, & Advanced Combination Techniques.

Thats why I said the Program is Comprehensive and meant to be learned & reinforced over a period of yrs. Which is why alot of Orgs are now looking at it in a different light; like the article I put up on AFSOC. Its b/c MCMAP is a much more Comprehensive program than simple Combatives.

So over time the Combatives portions just becomes Muscle Memory, but internally it develops more focused, driven Marines which improves & toughens the Mindset of the Corps as a whole. Which is what CMRS will eventually do.

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SCCOMarine 8/4/2008 10:14:07 PM

Well presently the 9 Marine Regiments are being organized to specialize in certain regions, but this will take a few yrs. But KIM that completion of the program will be around the rank of Gunny & Major which are really Staff Planning ranks.

I think at the Tactical Unit Level, BN/Comp, you could see some concentration but not much; to keep them flexible.

My guess on how it'll look is a MEU will be out and get a mission for Sierra Leon. The MEU will pool its Area Experts in that Region & Lang and begin the Operation Planning Cycle based on their input. Brief whichever Comp/Plt/or Sqd is selected to go & put together a team of Interpretor/Liason to assist in the Op.

The Same will be done for Libya, Lebanon, or Kosovo.

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