Enhancing Operational Cross-Cultural Observation Skills

Abstract

As effective interaction with foreign nationals has become increasingly critical to mission success in military operational environments, the emphasis on understanding and promoting Warfighter cross-cultural competence has grown. To address this need, our team developed a computer-based, multi-module training application (CultureGear) to enhance mission-centric, cross-cultural competence. We tested 92 Army cadets using a pre-post mixed design to examine the impact of CultureGear’s Observations module on cultural observation and assessment skills. Participants who were exposed to the CultureGear Observations module exhibited significantly more accurate image tagging (without sacrificing speed) and faster and more accurate quiz answers than participants who completed a filler task. Future research will evaluate the effectiveness of CultureGear at improving trainee performance in operational settings.