Routledge Military Culture and Education: Current Intersections of Academic and Military Cultures

While studies of American military culture have proliferated in recent years, and the culture of academic institutions has been a subject of perennial interest, comparatively little has been written on the multiple ways the military and academe intersect. Focusing on this subject offers an opportunity to explore how teachers and researchers straddle the two quite different cultures. The contributors to this volume both embody and articulate how the two cultures co-exist and cooperate, however unevenly at times. Chapters offer both ground-level perspectives of the classroom and campus as well as well-considered articulations of the tensions and opportunities involved in teaching and training civic-minded soldiers on issues especially important in the post-9/11 world. Review 'Although the military and academy instinctively butt horns, the teaching professionals in the military academies and advanced military schools are hard at work to infuse the humanities into a total education. The good news from this book is that we continue to live in a culture that values the individual - a vital notion for soldier, commander, and citizen.' Donald Anderson, Editor of War, Literature & the Arts 'The different perspectives that Higbee presents help the reader rethink the image of the military as a large, bureaucratic institution that never changes, deviates, or questions its procedures and standards. In fact, Higbee’s collection offers a gallery of people who show us that the military culture is adapting to higher education practices to improve its own training programs. The general lack of understanding of military culture makes this book relevant for everyone in higher education who works with or supports students who have military service... This book will be valuable to those who wish to increase their understanding of the military culture, customs, and mores from which student veterans come. This book is thus valuable for both civilian and military faculty. Both cultures need highly skilled faculty to effectively teach the leaders of tomorrow.' The Review of Higher Education 'This collection is a useful introduction to the world of cadet and professional military education, and many of its authors deliberately set out to deconstruct stereotypes they have encountered or perhaps once had themselves... Many of the authors do not shy away from criticism, and present a nuanced and complicated review of their experiences... this text is essential reading for those in the chain of command (in both Canada and the US) who remain less than supportive of broad-based education in both military academies and civilian universities as opposed to technical education or training, as well as their political overlords who approve funding for such programs. Th About the Author Douglas Higbee, University of South Carolina, Aiken, USA