Building Cultural Capability for Full-Spectrum Operations

: This report describes findings and recommendations from a research-based analysis on increasing linguistic and cultural capability in Army leaders and Soldiers. Findings from a workshop and literature review strongly support the role of culture-general skills and affect. In particular, interpersonal skills, non-ethnocentric attitudes, and openness emerged from workshop discussions and the literature as some of the most consistent contributors to success in cross-cultural settings. Workshop discussions also emphasized that cultural capability must be addressed throughout DOTMLPF and recommended that culture be incorporated at all levels of training and education. Findings from this analysis have contributed a research perspective to the development of a culture and language strategy at TRADOC. This research can further be used in identifying and prioritizing learning domains for education, training and leader development. Findings point to areas where existing training can be strengthened and to gaps that future training and education can address.