Introduction and overview of class, Military Overview,

History of Military Psychology, Ch1

Jan 11

Disclaimer

Information and opinions expressed by Maj Dhillon and other military/government employees providing lectures are not intended/should not be taken as representing the policies and views of the Department of Defense, its component services, or the US Government.

Schedule

• 15 classes• Spring Break 21 March• Exams:– 15 Feb– 14 Mar– 11 Apr– Final

Military Overview

• A. Branches• B. Rank Structure Personnel: Enlisted Vs.

Officers• C. Line vs. Medical/Support• D. Organizational Structure• E. Community Structure• F. Missions of different services—COL Banks

BSCT• G. Military Culture—walk, talk, eat, dress, write

Branches of the US Military

US ArmyMission: fight and win our Nation’s wars by providing prompt, sustained land dominance across the full range of

military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders.

• Who is at Risk?

• Risk to Leadership – Mutiny

• Tradition• Rigidity• Junior Autonomy• Desertion Risk

• Junior First, Then Everybody

• High

• Medium• Low• High• High

US Air ForceMission: fly, fight and win...in air, space and cyberspace.

• Who is at Risk?• Risk to Leadership –

Mutiny• Tradition• Rigidity• Junior Autonomy• Desertion Risk

• Officers• Very High

• Low• Medium• Low• Medium

US NavyMission: maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars,

deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.

• Who is at Risk?• Risk to Leadership –

Mutiny• Tradition• Rigidity• Junior Autonomy• Desertion Risk

• Everybody!• Low

• Very High• High• Low• Very Low

US Marine CorpsMission: amphibious, project combat ground and air forces from the sea.

• Who is at Risk?• Risk to Leadership –

Mutiny• Tradition• Rigidity• Junior Autonomy• Desertion Risk

• Everyone• High/Low

• High• High• Low• High

US Coast Guard

• Not a part of the Department of Defense• Under Department of Homeland Security

during peacetime• Falls under the Department of the Navy when

congress declares war or the President directs

Rank Structure-Enlisted

Rank Structure--Officers

Es and Os—What’s the Difference?

Enlistment Oath— Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following oath:

"I, XXXXXXXXXX, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Es and Os—What’s the Difference?

Officer Oath made upon commissioning as an officerI, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

Es and Os—What’s the Difference?

• Enlisted are the execution arm of military orders

• Officers are the planers/creators of military orders

• There are far more enlisted than officers across all branches.

• Ratios differ from service to service depending on their mission.

Line/Operational vs. Support/Institutional

• Regardless of component, The Army conducts both operational and institutional missions. The institutional Army supports the operational Army.

• Institutional organizations provide the infrastructure necessary to raise, train, equip, deploy, and ensure the readiness of all Army forces. It also allows The Army to expand rapidly in time of war. The industrial base provides world-class equipment and logistics for The Army. Once those forces are deployed, the institutional Army provides the logistics needed to support them.– Includes medical support

Line/Operational vs. Support/Institutional

• The operational Army consists of numbered armies, corps, divisions, brigades, and battalions that conduct full spectrum operations around the world.

• Without the institutional Army, the operational Army cannot function. Without the operational Army, the institutional Army has no purpose.

Organizational Structure

• Commands are a collection of formations• Formations are wings/brigades/divisions• Units make up formations and are

organizations with non-combat, combat or support roles

• Each branch has their own way of following this basic structure

Organizational Structure

AF ExampleMajor Command (MAJCOM)

WingGroupSquadron

FlightElement

Air Education Training Command (AETC)82 Training Wing (TRW)82 Medical Group (MDG)82 Medical Operations Squadron (MDOS)Mental Health FlightMental Health Clinic Element

Military Culture

• Population is a sampling of national population

• In addition to cultural factors in our diverse national landscape, military has its own culture:– Traditions– Discipline– Law– Norms

Military Norms

• Different from branch to branch but each has their own way to:– Walk– Talk– Write– Eat– Dress– Family Obligations

Type of Service

• Active—Member is full time in the service holding rank, full benefits during service

• Reserve—Member is “part-time” in the service, training one weekend a month, one 2 week field exercise a year, benefits only when activated or for service connected issues, active from 3-6 years

• National Guard—serve state and federal gov.– Training similar to reserve, assist with national

emergencies, if activated deploy for war effort