Military Culture
The Veteran Culture
Mikaela Barnett Chaltas
School of Professional Counseling
Lindsey Wilson College
Author Note
Mikaela Barnett Chaltas, The School of Professional Counseling, Lindsey Wilson College. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mikaela Barnett Chaltas, Ashland, Kentucky campus. Email: mikaela_barnett@yahoo.com
Abstract
The ever changing and evolving culture of Veterans is reviewed and discussed in this paper. This paper has five main parts which include: description of the culture, historical information, stereotypes, important values and beliefs, and counseling approaches. Keywords: veterans, culture, stereotypes, values, beliefs, counseling
The Veteran Culture The Veteran Culture is discussed in this paper. The paper is divided into five sections which include: a.) description of the culture; b.) historical information; c.) stereotypes; d.) Important values and beliefs; and e.) counseling approaches.
Description of Culture A Veteran is defined by Dictionary.com (2011, Nov.11) as a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like, or as a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war and experienced direct combat. Culture, as defined by J.P. Lederach, is, “the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of people for perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities around them” (p.9). All definitions aside, Veterans are, as the VA proudly and courageously states on their website, “Men and women who, for many reasons, donned the uniform of our country to stand between freedom and tyranny; to take up the sword of justice in defense of the liberties we hold dear; to preserve peace and to calm the winds of war.” The United States Military is comprised of many cultures and individuals from various backgrounds with various belief systems
Mikaela Barnett Chaltas
School of Professional Counseling
Lindsey Wilson College
Author Note
Mikaela Barnett Chaltas, The School of Professional Counseling, Lindsey Wilson College. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mikaela Barnett Chaltas, Ashland, Kentucky campus. Email: mikaela_barnett@yahoo.com
Abstract
The ever changing and evolving culture of Veterans is reviewed and discussed in this paper. This paper has five main parts which include: description of the culture, historical information, stereotypes, important values and beliefs, and counseling approaches. Keywords: veterans, culture, stereotypes, values, beliefs, counseling
The Veteran Culture The Veteran Culture is discussed in this paper. The paper is divided into five sections which include: a.) description of the culture; b.) historical information; c.) stereotypes; d.) Important values and beliefs; and e.) counseling approaches.
Description of Culture A Veteran is defined by Dictionary.com (2011, Nov.11) as a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like, or as a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war and experienced direct combat. Culture, as defined by J.P. Lederach, is, “the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of people for perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities around them” (p.9). All definitions aside, Veterans are, as the VA proudly and courageously states on their website, “Men and women who, for many reasons, donned the uniform of our country to stand between freedom and tyranny; to take up the sword of justice in defense of the liberties we hold dear; to preserve peace and to calm the winds of war.” The United States Military is comprised of many cultures and individuals from various backgrounds with various belief systems
References: Bryan, C. J., & Morrow, C. E. (2011). Circumventing mental health stigma by embracing the warrior culture: Lessons learned from the defender. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(1), 16-23. Culture. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved November 09, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/culture Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Veterans Affairs. (September 2011). The Veterans Day Teacher Resource Guide. Office of National Programs and Special Events. Website: http://www.va.gov/vetsday Hobbs, K Jarvis, C. (2009). "If he comes home nervous": U.s. world war II neuropsychiatric casualties and postwar masculinities. The Journal of Men 's Studies, 17(2), 97-115. Lederach, J.P. (1995). Preparing for peace: Conflict transformation across cultures. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. Palmer, Nick. (2011, October 28). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Understanding and Treating Veterans. Ashland, KY. United States Army. (n. d.). Living the army values. United States Army. Retrieved November 7, 2011, from: http://www.goarmy.com/soldier-life/being-a-soldier/living-the-army-values.html# Veteran