News

A Marine interacts with children overseas. Likely, his success in another culture can be attributed to Marine Corp Univiserity's CAOCL program. - A Marine interacts with children overseas. Likely, his success in another culture can be attributed to Marine Corp Univiserity's CAOCL program.

Learning language and culture is an important part of being a Marine

Today, Marines must be proficient in foreign language and cultures around the world in order to be prepared for vital missions. This training comes from the Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning (CAOCL) at Marine Corps University.

Read More

Map of South China Sea - Map of South China Sea

What Marines need to know about South China Sea territorial disputes

The nine-dash-line is an area in the South China Sea that China claims as sovereign territory. It extends from the southern coast of China, down the east coast of Vietnam, to the northwest coast of Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia, up the entire west coast of the Philippines, and to Taiwan. The history of this line is somewhat debated: Many argue that these claims date back officially to 1935, when the Kuomintang government published an official list of Chinese names for the islands in the South China Sea. Many Chinese, however, refer to a series of maps commissioned during the Qing Dynasty that show the entire area as belonging to China. And some members of the Chinese government argue there is written proof of sovereignty going back several centuries B.C.

Read More

Map of Africa - Map of Africa

The emergence of ‘hashtag advocacy’ in Africa’s AOR

The reaction to the terrorist group Boko Haram’s kidnapping of approximately 270 girls from a school in northern Nigeria on April 15 has seemingly transformed from another harrowing episode of terror to an international outrage fueled by direct global grassroots appeals to release the girls. The #BringBackOurGirls campaign can be safely characterized as the first social media mandate for international intervention in Africa.

Read More

Denise Slater, the Latin America and Cultural Analyst for the Center of Advanced Operational Culture Learning for the Regional Cultural and Language Familiarization Program. - Denise Slater, the Latin America and Cultural Analyst for the Center of Advanced Operational Culture Learning for the Regional Cultural and Language Familiarization Program.

Culture analyst helps bring two different worlds together

Since 2012 Denise Slater has been working as the Latin America SME and researcher as part of the Regional Culture and Language Familiarization program at the CAOCL. At RCLF she is responsible for identifying topics of regional relevance, conducting research and development of academic curriculum on all Latin America’s sub region. Areas of research include Latin American culture, political institutions, social-economic issues, security, governance, regional issues and regional militaries.

Read More

Center for Advanced Operational Cultural Learning Africa desk research analyst Florence Dawson enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004 after waiting six years to receive her Green Card. Dawson teaches French and other cultural aspects of Africa to Marines and other service members who are preparing to deploy to regions of the continent. - Center for Advanced Operational Cultural Learning Africa desk research analyst Florence Dawson enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004 after waiting six years to receive her Green Card. Dawson teaches French and other cultural aspects of Africa to Marines and other service members who are preparing to deploy to regions of the continent.

Veteran Marine teaches African culture, French to deploying units

Florence Dawson’s route to the Marine Corps was unlike most. For her, the motto, “Once a Marine Always a Marine” is true as she continues to work with Marines and other services as part of Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Read More

Venezuela, like many countries in Latin America, has been plagued by poverty and unequal income distribution for decades. This made this oil-rich country prone to come under the political influence of populist leaders such as former President Hugo Chavez. - Venezuela, like many countries in Latin America, has been plagued by poverty and unequal income distribution for decades. This made this oil-rich country prone to come under the political influence of populist leaders such as former President Hugo Chavez.

What Marines need to know about Venezuela

Venezuela, like many countries in Latin America, has been plagued by poverty and unequal income distribution for decades. This made this oil-rich country prone to come under the political influence of populist leaders such as former President Hugo Chavez. He used the world’s biggest oil reserves to aid the poor and to gain political leverage by subsidizing gas for all. Venezuelans’ quality of life dramatically improved at the third-fastest pace world-wide. However, his radical populist policies and those of current President Nicolas Maduro, a former truck driver, named his “legitimate successor” were unsustainable in the long run. Venezuela’s economy is currently in the brink of ruins, with 57 percent inflation, shortages of food and other household goods, and the highest murder rates and criminality in the region.

Read More

Crimea, an autonomous republic in Ukraine, became the focus of attention in early 2014 when mass protests in central and western Ukraine forced the pro-Moscow president of the country to flee to Russia. Russia-backed forces in Crimea then took control of the republic and in a hastily organized referendum, the Russian ethnic majority in the region voted to join Russia. The Russian government quickly annexed the republic. - Crimea, an autonomous republic in Ukraine, became the focus of attention in early 2014 when mass protests in central and western Ukraine forced the pro-Moscow president of the country to flee to Russia. Russia-backed forces in Crimea then took control of the republic and in a hastily organized referendum, the Russian ethnic majority in the region voted to join Russia. The Russian government quickly annexed the republic.

What Marines need to know about Crimea

Crimea, an autonomous republic in Ukraine, became the focus of attention in early 2014 when mass protests in central and western Ukraine forced the pro-Moscow president of the country to flee to Russia. Russia-backed forces in Crimea then took control of the republic and in a hastily organized referendum, the Russian ethnic majority in the region voted to join Russia. The Russian government quickly annexed the republic.

Read More