Less Foreign in a Foreign Country

Example Three: Iraq, training mission. A delegation of high-ranking officers and commanders visits the Polish Military Contingent. The visit program includes a dinner with the hosts, the representatives of the Iraqi army. During the meal, one of the Polish officers courteously asks his Iraqi counterpart if he likes the meal. In response, the Iraqi officer picks up a large portion of fish from his plate with his hand and puts it on his neighbor’s plate. The Polish officer is surprised, but, instructed by his interpreter, does not refuse to taste the dish – any other reaction would be perceived as an insult.
What do these situations have in common? All the soldiers described above, who were on missions in a foreign country, faced cultural differences. Although the above examples can be considered anecdotes, they reveal how people brought up in different cultures can behave completely differently in the same situations. Mutual lack of understanding for otherness and different sensitivity can lead to serious trouble, as well as endanger the lives of soldiers and threaten the success of the mission.

Learning from Experience

One of the basic concepts on modern battlefield is situational awareness. Soldiers must know where they will come to work, who they will deal with and what is their task. They should know how to perform proper terrain and enemy forces reconnaissance. However, enemy reconnaissance (and in certain situations also allies or training partners reconnaissance) means not only acquiring specific knowledge about one’s combat capabilities and skills. It is also about learning one’s customs, beliefs, cultural background, or religion. Soldiers always operate in a specific environment with other people – very often they are people formed by a different culture. As a result, even the most seemingly obvious gestures can become problematic, for instance a nod for confirmation (e.g. in Bulgaria, culturally not far from Poland, you turn your head to the left and to the right for confirmation).

For this reason, in recent years, a factor called intercultural or cultural awareness has played an increasingly important role while planning military operations. The formation of the above discipline was influenced by the experience of the world’s supreme armies – primarily the US Army – in the course of wars conducted in recent decades, but also various military, stabilization and training missions. The entire North Atlantic Alliance also learns from these experiences, because the conclusions drawn allow us to conclude that the success and effectiveness of the tasks performed may depend on intercultural awareness. In contemporary research on the art of war, attention is drawn to the fact that cultural specificity also affects the actions of the army – it conditions not only the behavior indicated in the first paragraphs of this text, but also tactical activity and even strategic concepts.

Thumbs Up?

Preparation for operating in a different-culture environment relates to practically all aspects: gestures, body language, non-verbal signs, voice tone and pitch, visual or physical contact, sense of time, hierarchy in a given community, gender issues, or ethnic and religious affiliation. Even individual private space around one’s body is important: there are nations where people shorten physical distance and not only immediately start being on first-name terms, but also, for example, stand very close to their interlocutors, touching them, pulling their sleeve or patting on their shoulder; other nations rather keep their distance and do not tolerate close contact, especially physical one. The meeting of people from these two cultures can immediately lead to difficulties: one will feel attacked and troubled, while the other will feel repelled and treated with distrust.

In some cultures, it is even important to use a specific hand in a physical contact. In the Middle East, the left hand is considered impure, so all gestures should be made with the right hand, it should also be used to point, pass on or offer objects and touch other people. There is one more thing: time. In the culture of many countries, also in Polish, punctuality is considered a virtue and an important personality trait – it allows you to plan and organize the day. On the other hand, there are cultures that perceive time completely differently: punctuality itself is less important than, for example, time spent later on being together, you can therefore be late, and the matter can be settled at a different time, while it is considered as rudeness, for example, to quickly move on to business and then immediately end the meeting, without spending a few moments on some courtesy talk before saying goodbye. Polish soldiers serving in Afghanistan found out that punctuality and time was perceived completely differently there. They often heard an Afghan saying: “You have watches, but we have time.”

Speaking of gestures: the thumb up is considered a very positive sign in Western culture. In many Asian cultures, however, it is equivalent to showing the middle finger. Moreover, the differences in gestures are also visible between individual Western societies: the index and middle fingers raised upwards in the form of the letter V in Poland are associated with the symbol of victory. While in Great Britain the same sign, but with fingers bent towards the face – and not towards the viewer, is vulgar and means as much as in Europe a protruding middle finger or a raised thumb in the Middle East.

Different codes

Can the knowledge on how to behave appropriately at checkpoints or during meetings with the elders or local administration authorities help soldiers in carrying out missions? Well, it can. The task of the soldiers is to fulfill the goals of the mission in which they participate. This means that they are to protect their own forces, take care of the entrusted equipment, but also protect or support the residents of a given area or train its soldiers. For this to happen, contact with local people is necessary, not only with ordinary citizens, but also local leaders, mayors, parliamentarians, heads of local companies, politicians and informal authorities, such as village elders. Therefore, in order for the presence of foreign troops in this area to be accepted and cooperation to develop well, when preparing the mission, it is necessary to take into account not only the number of soldiers and their weapons, but also the value system of the inhabitants of a given area, their moral norms and the code of ethics adopted in a given community. All this allows you to avoid trouble and understand the behavior of the other party, it also gives you a chance to be accepted and understood. With knowledge of local customs and behaviors, you can learn to interpret them and react correctly for your own comfort and safety. On the other hand, transferring customs and behaviors from one’s own culture to a different cultural circle can be met with reluctance or hostility, even if a soldier has the best intentions and is open and benevolent.

It is a bit worse when you make mistakes. There is a well-known example of American soldiers who burned copies of the Koran seized from imprisoned terrorists at the Bagram base in Afghanistan in 2012. They were afraid that the Taliban were using the books to convey news to each other. The case ended in outrage and protests in which at least 30 people were killed and almost 200 were injured. Such incidents, especially those that end bloodily, do not serve to build bonds and trust between the soldiers and local population, which simply translates into the functioning of the military contingent.

Sometimes problematic situations occur due to unconsciousness and lack of knowledge, and the reactions of the other party can be shocking. During the mission in Afghanistan, Canadian soldiers were annoyed by village dogs and shot at them so that the dogs would not warn the Taliban with barking. At some point, one of the Afghans approached the Canadians and told them to kill one of his children instead of his dog. From our point of view, this behavior is shocking, but that man preferred to lose one child than the trained shepherd dog, the work of which helped to feed his entire family.

The importance of culture and customs awareness is also discussed by SSWO Michał Rózga, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Command of the 12th Mechanized Division, formerly a participant in the mission in Iraq and Afghanistan: “In countries culturally different from Poland, such as Iraq or Afghanistan, many things can surprise and shock us. Misunderstanding can cause various undesirable situations or even lead to an escalation of conflicts and manifestations of aggression. Unfamiliarity with the cultural context can affect not only safety, but in extreme cases also the success of the entire mission. I remember that in Afghanistan, for example, soldiers could not accept the role played by women in that society. They would react when they saw, for example, that a woman was carrying heavy load and her husband was not helping her. Still, though, their task is not to change local customs or instruct locals.”

Not Only the Alliance

Knowledge of conventions in behavior is one thing, but an important element is also even scarce knowledge related to the specifics of the region where an operation is conducted. Military missions are very often carried out in areas inhabited by mixed populations, which are thus culturally, linguistically, ethnically and religiously diverse. Examples may be Lebanon, Kosovo or Bosnia and Herzegovina; Polish soldiers are currently being deployed there. The historical context allows us to understand the background of the problems, while the explanation of issues related to linguistic, ethnic and religious issues explains where rivalry or hatred between the representatives of different communities comes from.

The importance of proper preparation of soldiers for operating in conflict areas is something the decision-makers in structures organizing military missions are aware of, including the NATO command. This is expressed in the Alliance’s doctrinal programs and documents, but also in debates and conferences devoted to the analysis and investigation of the problematic phenomenon. The acquisition of the necessary intercultural competences is therefore a necessary element of the soldiers’ preparation for stabilization, training or peacekeeping missions.

Much more advanced knowledge is necessary for those army men, on the other hand, who deal with specialized tasks, such as civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) or groups responsible for psychological (PsyOps) and information (InfoOps) operations. It has been confirmed that compliance with the principles adopted in a given culture, cooperation with the local administration, and understanding of its needs determines the effectiveness of operations on civil-military cooperation and forms of aid. Today as the anecdotes, there are many stories about how the cans with beef were delivered to India locals or with pork to Muslim countries.

In Poland, cultural training for soldiers of the Polish Military Contingent has been conducted for years by the Preparation Center for Foreign Missions (CPdMZ) in Kielce. “According to current regulations, all soldiers leaving on missions must undergo training on cultural conditions, religion and customs,” emphasizes the commander of the CPdMZ, Colonel Adam Włoczewski, and adds: “Soldiers, before leaving, are also trained in the field of protection of the civilian population, protection and support for victims of gender-based violence, protection of children in armed conflicts, principles of civil-military cooperation or protection of cultural goods.” Classes are based on general guidelines prepared by NATO, the United Nations or the European Union, but in Kielce they are enriched with additional content. “Trainings in this area are also mandatory for soldiers who perform duties as part of the NATO Readiness Initiative, the NATO Response Forces or the EU Battle Group. Everyone participates in the classes, regardless of their degree, position and missionary experience. The course applies to both a private who goes on a mission for the first time and a colonel who goes for the third time,” explains Jakub Strzeblecki from the cultural training section of the Kielce center.

Training on cultural conditions is not long – they usually take several hours of classes. The exception is pre-mission training in Lebanon. PMC soldiers participate in a week-long course, and the staff and contingent command train for two weeks. “We talk about historical and geopolitical conditions, religious and ethnic diversity of Lebanon, Christian and Muslim culture, we also talk about the principles of Islam. We lecture about customs, gestures, beliefs, prejudices,” indicates Agnieszka Krasowska of the CPdMZ. Knowledge of these matters allows soldiers performing tasks outside their base to properly interpret the signals sent by the locals, establish contacts and interact with local military units or administration.

For each of the PMCs, courses are held stationarily or online via video conferencing. “Since the pandemic, online training has been most frequent. We try to provide a complete knowledge during online classes, but there is no doubt that during offline classes it is much easier to discuss and exchange experiences, especially since soldiers who have extensive missionary experience also participate in them,” says Agnieszka Krasowska. Just a few years ago, when the Polish Armed Forces were conducting combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, offline cultural training in Kielce lasted a week or two. Soldiers learned not only about the culture, religion and customs of the region, but also studied the basics of the Dari and Pashto languages.

Polish Military Contingents are currently stationed in Iraq, Latvia, Romania, Kosovo, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Africa, Italy or Lebanon, rotationally in Lithuania and Estonia (PMC Orlik) and are on duty under the SON or GBUE. Cultural courses have been prepared for all these contingents in Kielce. “We choose the content differently for the people who will serve in the Balkans, differently for those who go to Latvia, and differently for those delegated to the Middle East or Africa,” Strzeblecki notes. “We are not able to make soldiers cultural scientists of a given region, but that is not our goal either. We teach the army absolute basics. We want to broaden soldiers’ horizons, pass on knowledge that will help them in their service abroad and that will give them information on how not to cause trouble for themselves and others. We explain that everyone has the right to their own views, but when they perform their duties on a mission, they should beware of manifesting personal beliefs and prejudices. The goal is for the soldier after the course to know how to behave in a given cultural circle or how to adapt to the norms and rules in force,” emphasizes Jakub Strzeblecki.

The training also covers the basics of the savoir-vivre rules adopted in a given society: “We talk, for example, about what behaviors are preferred and what are undesirable in a given environment. We point which topics should not be discussed. We also mention the interesting facts that make the training more attractive, such as national dishes,” mentions Jakub Strzeblecki.

The commander of the CPdMZ also points out that the staff of the Kielce facility regularly takes part in foreign missions, CIMIC specialists from Kielce go to Lebanon, Kosovo for every PMC shift, and they are also in Bosnia. This allows them not only to gain new experiences, but also to add new content to courses in the field of intercultural conditions.

The usefulness of such training is seen by the soldiers themselves. “Before the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, I participated in this type of course with great curiosity and interest. Because although as soldiers we are properly prepared for military operations – we have uniforms, weapons, we are properly trained, we still have to understand that our effectiveness on a mission is more than tactical capabilities. It is mandatory to know the culture of the country we are going to and the religion. Only in this way will we be able to act with respect for local customs, beliefs and faith. I have always tried to encourage my subordinates to deepen their knowledge in this area,” says BrigGen Grzegorz Kaliciak, PhD, Commander of the 15th Giżycko Mechanized Brigade, participant of the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The officer mentions that, for example, before leaving for Afghanistan, he would recommend a reading list to his soldiers. The soldiers, following their commander, learned not only about the history of Afghanistan, studied maps and guides, but also read Modlitwa o deszcz (A Prayer for Rain) by the Polish journalist Wojciech Jagielski or The Kite Runner by the Kabul-born novelist Khaled Hosseini. “I wanted to accustom the soldiers to a different culture before going on a mission,” the General emphasizes.

The need for cultural training is also confirmed by Capt Jarosław Wyrzykowski from the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade, who led the operational section during the 9th shift of the UNIFIL PMC in Lebanon: “The biggest difficulty in Lebanon is that we operate in a region where Christian and Muslim villages are located alternatingly every few kilometers. We cannot sympathize with either side and while maintaining neutrality, we must adapt to the rules, principles and customs of the representatives of both these cultures. Proper training in intercultural awareness is of particular importance for the PMC commander, who very often meets with leaders and authorities of cities and villages. Before each such meeting, the PMC commander is prepared by CIMIC specialists during a short briefing. You need to know who and how to say hello, what you can say and to whom, so as not to cause any diplomatic problems.”

Missing Piece

Scientists specializing in a given culture also talk about the importance of preparing soldiers for missions. Marcin Rzepka, PhD, an employee of the Institute of Religious Studies at the Jagiellonian University, orientalist and specialist in Iran and Afghanistan, conducted training for soldiers going on missions. “Such classes were very extensive. I and my colleagues, from the then Institute of Iranian Studies at the Jagiellonian University, conducted classes on Afghan culture, the specificity of the local variety of Islam, linguistic, ethnic and social diversity and cultural codes.” He emphasizes that this type of training allows you to gain a general awareness in the culture and reality in which soldiers will operate. It is also about being aware of the problems that a given society faces, which allows you to prepare for various challenges. “For example, I drew the soldiers’ attention to the fact that the Afghan society is traumatized by war, because since 1978 the following generations have been growing up in the shadow of conflicts and fighting. I spoke about the need to be open to otherness, I also emphasized that soldiers should remain vigilant and suspicious, because behind the facade politeness the interests of certain groups may be hidden, and the politeness itself may not translate into the actual attitude towards soldiers.”

At the same time, the researcher emphasizes that the experience gained by soldiers on missions has great cognitive value: “Observations made by people who have the opportunity to come into personal contact with a multitude of various situations may be more interesting and deeper than people who theoretically learn about some cultural space,” says Marcin Rzepka, and adds: “We pass on our knowledge to soldiers, and they take our recommendations into account in their daily work on the spot. In this whole puzzle, one more piece is missing that would allow us to study the experience gained by the soldiers so we can pass it on to others during the next trainings. In this way, the whole process could be improved so as to offer soldiers not only general knowledge, but also specific recommendations for work and service in a particular region or during a specific mission.”

The importance of intercultural awareness courses is also discussed by Col Marcin Matczak, Chief of Staff of the 1st Legion Infantry Division, former head of the cultural training section of CPdMZ in Kielce. “We cannot allow for losing the capability and knowledge in this area that we have gained during the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Maybe in ten or twenty years the Polish Armed Forces will again take part in the combat operation and then we will have to rediscover the relationship between the culture of the operation area and the effectiveness of military operations, develop procedures and conduct research... We have already done it, we only need to systematize and implement this knowledge. This is the approach of, for example, the Americans, who after completing combat missions use the collected experience for training purposes, write new instructions and educational programs,” says the officer. At the same time, he emphasizes that intercultural awareness and the so-called operationalization of culture are more important for stabilization and combat missions than for peace missions.

“This does not mean that we should now take a break in passing and systematization of knowledge. A decade ago, I had the impression that many soldiers treat intercultural awareness training as learning the basics of savoir-vivre,” the officer believes and claims that today is no better.

The military argue that intercultural awareness is important at the strategic level (for example, to avoid planning mission goals that are not achievable in the context of a given culture), as well as at the operational and tactical level. It may therefore be worth considering that training in this area should be mandatory in the process of training officers and non-commissioned officers. What’s more, soldiers emphasize that knowledge of culture and customs is also important in allied relations. There is a reason why almost all NATO courses for officers and non-commissioned officers have classes on intercultural awareness. After all, understanding differences, even among cooperating armies, translates into better understanding during international military training and exercises.