Bombs, Then Bandages: Preparing the Warfighter for the Sojourn to Peacekeeping

One characteristic of the emerging strategic environment is the increased use of the Armed Forces to conduct Peacekeeping Operations. Implicit in this tasking is the requirement for military members to shift from a warfighting to a peacekeeping mindset. This crossover, from a military culture focused on the use of force to a civilian culture emphasizing the establishment and maintenance of peace, requires specialized training. Paul Siu's social type, the Sojourner, contains insights applicable to the training required for this cross-cultural transition. This paper explores the potential implications of the Sojourner social type on the military conduct of peacekeeping operations. It highlights the principle components of the military culture and compare those attributes to the defining aspects of the peacekeeping culture. The Sojourner model is then overlaid on this cross-cultural movement and from this is derived a fresh insight into the important task of preparing our warfighters to serve as peacekeepers.