Iraq Culture Smart Cards (from the U.S. Marines)
Last year I blogged about the Marine Corps’ primer on cultural sensitivity in Arab lands, which seemed to resemble the kinds of tips one might find in the front of a Lonely Planet guide to the Middle East.
Now I’ve read reports that the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA), has distributed thousands of “Iraq Culture Smart Cards” to American serviceman in Iraq. The 16-panel, folded card includes information on religion, religious holidays, clothes and gestures, ethnic groups, cultural groups, customs, and history, social structure, and understanding Arabic names. Also included are “Do This” and “Don’t Do This”, commands, numbers, questions, and helpful words and phrases. An online sample card can be found here.
When I first heard about these “smart cards”, I’ll admit I thought of the “Kwikpoint
March 7th, 2005 at 2:45 pm
Also, soldiers and Marines have a bit more riding on accurate communication than merely catching the wrong bus or misusing the bidet.
March 7th, 2005 at 2:53 pm
This is true, Jerry! That’s why it’s good that the military is making a point of emphasizing cross-cultural basics…
March 26th, 2005 at 7:30 pm
Just FYI – tha cards were produced by SAIC for MCIA.
SAIC also produced interactive cultural CD’s in support of OIF.
October 30th, 2005 at 8:43 pm
This is a great tool for those facing deployment to a country so vastly different from our own. I just wish I could find a way to get a copy to pass out to my troops.