Cultural Awareness a Priority for Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group
USS TARAWA, Pacific Ocean (NNS) -- Cultural awareness professors from Monterey, Calif. embarked amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) Nov. 5 to teach the crew about countries the ship could potentially visit during their regularly scheduled deployment.
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=33422
Story Number: NNS071120-07
Release Date: 11/20/2007 3:50:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Zuidema, USS Tarawa Public Affairs
"These classes are part of something called the Regional Security Education program, which the Naval Postgraduate School provides to all the deploying strike groups," said Daniel Moran, professor for several of the classes. "It's intended to improve strategic level situational awareness for deploying American forces. We try to tailor the presentations to the mission and region where you're going."
Before Moran began teaching cultural awareness classes he studied the history of war and history of the Middle East and attended both Yale and Stanford. As a professor with the Naval Postgraduate School, he and his team provide graduate-level education on historical perspectives and current affairs.
The instructors and their classes made an impact on those who attended the classes. "This worthwhile program is for everyone," said Capt. John Miley, Commodore Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group. "It's not just important for the staffs, it's not just important for the senior leadership level, I think its important all the way up and down the chain as well as on both the blue and green side."
The classes pay big dividends for service members no matter where they go. Globalization has made the world smaller, so understanding other countries and maritime forces and their perspectives allow the Navy and Marine Corps to assist in achieving the missions of partner countries.
"If they're Marines going to Iraq or Afghanistan dealing with the local populous, or Sailors on liberty somewhere, just the awareness and understanding will help," added Miley.
While the instructors' time aboard was limited, classes such as Intro to Islam, Iran's Influence in the Persian Gulf and Cultural Sensitivities in Muslim countries were videotaped in order to be offered on all the ships of the ESG. The taping allows everyone to be more prepared for the people they'll meet and situations in which they'll participate.
"The best advice I can give to someone who is going to a country they have never been to is not to worry too much about passing as a native because you're not a native," commented Moran. "You are an American. You want to embody all the good characteristics of Americans and you won't offend anybody anywhere."