World Warfighter
The World Warfighter initiative helps prepare soldiers for the type of cross-cultural relationship-building that saves lives and creates lasting change. World Warfighter training helps members of the military develop:
- Cross-cultural competency
- Regional expertise
- Basic language proficiency
Why we need World Warfighters
Cultural intelligence should provide the foundation of knowledge for all types of operations in foreign lands and for all levels of war.
—Lieutenant Commander John P. Coles, USN
Our forces increasingly need to work with counterparts and civilians from very different cultures. Research shows that military personnel who improve their intercultural effectiveness are more likely to navigate these complex interactions successfully.
It’s hard enough working in a dangerous, uncomfortable place far from home and family. It’s tough enough hearing constant criticism from politicians and journalists. But the job can look terminally thankless if you cannot even understand the people you’re trying to save.
—John Tierney, New York Times
Growing quickly
Work on the training program to date has focused on tools to develop cross-cultural competence, under a Phase II SBIR with the Army Research Institute. We’re defining competencies and performance objectives for specific roles within the Army, and creating classroom and online tools to develop these competencies. We’re partnering with the US Military Academy at West Point and the NCO Academy at Fort Huachuca to prototype, test, and refine these tools.
Later this year we’ll begin work on tools to develop basic language proficiency, under the HSCB Modeling Program through a contract with the Office of Naval Research (ONR). We’re currently looking for partners interested in creating role-specific, task-based language training solutions for their commands.
