The U.S. Navy recently released a new application for mobile devices to support personnel and families stationed or deployed abroad.  The app assists with learning basic cultural awareness and language skills.  The app provides material for six fleet concentration areas: Bahrain, Italy, Japan, Spain, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines. The Navy Center for Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture (CLREC) plans to continue adding resources on language, history, geography, people, ethnic groups, religious institutions, societal norms, behaviors, etiquette, and culturally-appropriate behaviors for more additional countries.  

"Whether you are stationed overseas or visiting another nation during a port call on liberty, cultural understanding and familiarization with the language are keys to being a good ambassador," said Chris Wise, CLREC director. "International engagement is something the Navy does and has always done. This app makes it easier than ever for our Navy team and family to access material that will help prepare them to be ready and successful abroad."

Information on the CLREC Navy Global Deployer app includes operational cultural awareness training (OCAT) videos, culture cards, etiquette guides, and common language phrases that provide suggestions for how to go about learning a language.  The OCATs are narrated videos providing in-depth information on a country's history, language, social norms, culturally-appropriate and taboo behaviors. The culture cards are guides for a specific country summarizing much of the information presented in the corresponding OCAT. The U.S. Navy Sea Warrior Program (PMW 240) produced the app and Tracen Technologies Inc., a company which specializes in integrated mobile and web solutions, was the software developer. Although the app was designed for the Navy, the materials are suited for all military personnel and family members.  The CLREC Navy Global Deployer mobile application is available for download from the iTunes and Google Play online stores. To find the free app, search key words such as "CLREC" and "Navy global deployer" in the app stores or a web browser. Sailors can also find this app and many other Navy apps at www.applocker.navy.mil.

Read More: CLREC Global Deployer Info Sheet

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Want to learn more about culture and cultural training in the Department of Defense (DoD)?  CultureReady.org is here to help!  We are a public resource to discover specific information about various cultures and also training on cross cultural competence or general concepts that affect all cultures.  If you are in the military, or support the military, or are thinking of joining the military, we welcome you to check it out!  Some of our Department of Defense (DoD) oriented material is restricted to government ID holders, or password protected, but our goal is to provide you with some training that is easy to access.  Cultural competence is important to military missions, the Department of Defense (DoD), and for all those who support those missions.  Learning about specific cultures will help you accomplish challenging tasks in a culturally complex environment.  Being ready for any cultural challenge in an important aspect of military readiness.  For more information on culture readiness and training, be sure to check back to CultureReady.org