It has been said that "to know another language is to know another life." In this rapidly globalizing 21st century world, that simple statement summarizes the gift of regional expertise, cultural understanding, and the ability to communicate directly in the language of an ally, partner or colleague.
The Defense Langauge Institute opened its first Europe-based language lab Oct. 4 at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. Dan Regelbrugge joins us from the lab to talk about what the new facility offers and the dedication it took to get the center up and running.
Military personnel from 11 NATO-member nations took part in a tour of the Krka National Park located along the Krka River in Croatia on Sept. 15, 2012.
We have many partners in the war on terror. SGT Matthew O’Neill shows us how the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps, Italy, brought people from many of these nations together for a day of cultural displays and fun.
A training venue was taking place for troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Grafenwoehr, Germany. Something that will be very helpful for their upcoming deployment.
Lt. Col. Robert Swertfager, the SAFE SKIES 2011 Project Officer from the California Air National Guard, takes a piece of bread during a Ukrainian custom after landing at Migorod Air Base. SAFE SKIES 2011 is a joint Ukraine, Poland, U.S. aerial exchange event. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Maj. Matthew T. Mutti, 104FW/CCE, Released).
Often, friction is the result of cultural collisions – disagreements stemming from differences in fundamental belief systems, well established processes, and patterns of execution.
I had an experience last week I never expected when I began my naval career in the 1970s during the Cold War period: a four-day visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg, hosted by the Russian Chief of Defense.
As I mentioned in my vlog last week I was in Bergen, Norway during my official co-hosting duties with the Norwegian Chief of Defense, General Harald Sunde, for the Northern European Chief of Defense (CHOD) Conference. As "The Fjord Capital of Norway", Bergen is often described as "a city with its feet in the sea, its head in the skies, and its heart in the right place." What I didn't mention in the vlog is I found myself in a situation that affected my head and heart before the conference had even begun.