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MISSION
Ensure the Marine Corps is a Force that is globally prepared, regionally focused, and effective at navigating and influencing the culturally complex 21st Century operating environments in support of USMC missions and requirements.


TRAINING
The Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning executes operationally focused training and educations in individual training, PME, and pre-deployment phases, reflecting current and likely contingencies and functions, to ensure Marines and leaders deploy with a grasp of culture and indigenous dynamics for use as a force multiplier.
EDUCATION

RCLF is a career long program designed to ensure Marines are globally prepared and regionally focused in order to effectively navigate the culturally complex 21st Century operating environment. Each of the seventeen RCLF regions contains cultures linked by shared cultural traits and geographical proximity. RCLF uses regional examples to provide context for broader culture concepts.
RESEARCH
The Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning conducts rigorous, peer-reviewed research to support broad Marine Corps missions. CAOCL works in close partnership with Marines, emphasizing solutions that transfer knowledge and abilities to warfighters.
LATEST NEWS
United States Marine Corps General details training changes
by Gina Harkins of Marine Corps Times on 10/4/2012
Marines are about to see a lot of changes in their training as the Corps shifts from steady combat in Afghanistan to new missions focused on U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
There are plans to revamp pre-deployment workups, reinvigorate jungle warfare training and develop broader cultural expertise in this vast, diverse and dynamic part of the world. Lessons learned during the past decade will undoubtedly play a role in determining how these programs evolve, said Maj. Gen. Tom Murray, the head of Training and Education Command, but with budgets and people stretched, TECOM must look closely at cost and benefit — that is, how the Corps will get the best return on investment.



Koran protests: What do Marines learn about Afghan culture?
by Emily Alpert of Los Angeles Times on 2/24/2012
What do U.S. Marines usually learn about the Koran and about Afghan culture? To find out, The LA Times turned to Lt. Col. George Robinson, an operations officer at the Center for Advanced Operational Cultural Learning in Quantico, Va.
The center trains Marines to understand different cultures and communicate in foreign languages. It opened in 2006 in reaction to the challenges the U.S. was facing with Iraqi insurgents.



MarineNET Implementation of the Regional, Culture, and Language and Language Familiarization Program Officer Block III
MARADMIN 128/11
The purpose of this MARADMIN is to provide guidance for Marine Corps active duty and reserve Captains who have completed Block 2 of their Regional, Culture, and Language Familiarization (RCLF) Program requirement.


Marines Prepare For Battle with New Weapon at Disposal
by 10News on 2/11/2011
A Marine responds, "What are you shooting at" in Dari, the main language of Afghanistan, where the Marines will be deployed this summer.
"Do you think this course could save your life or others' lives?" asked 10News' Michael Chen. "Definitely," said Sgt. Kenneth Johnson, who's been in two deployments to Iraq.
In addition to the basic language classes, Marines now have the option of taking advanced Afghan language courses. In this six-week class, critical phrases are learned, along with 600 vocabulary words.
In the class 10News sat in on, Marines learned phrases like "weapons on safe," "do not cross this line," and "ceasefire."  Two weeks into the class, the Marines can carry on basic conversations that could become critical in Afghanistan.
The military won't release numbers, but officials said the number of interpreters is limited, while interactions with the Afghan army and people are many.
"This is their country, their neighborhood and we have to meet them halfway," said Capt. Nathan Gulosh.



US Marines Being Trained for Cultural Sensitivity before Deployment
by Ana Ward of Voice of America on 1/3/2011
The U.S. military is expected to withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014. But thousands of U.S. Marines will still deploy there within the next year to support the war.
To prepare them, the Defense Department has introduced culture training programs at several military bases around the United States. One such program is being conducted at the Quantico Marine Base in Virginia - about 58 kilometers from Washington, D.C.



Military push in cultural understanding of Afghanistan
by World News America Team of BBC on 12/8/2010
The key to US success in Afghanistan lies with handing over the country's security to Afghan forces.
It is a training operation which often requires an understanding of the local culture - and businesses are cashing in on that type of training.   The BBC takes a closer look at that side of the military push.