A guide to understanding and leading today’s US military force.
Significant shifts in military culture have created a complex set of challenges, impacting morale and motivation, recruitment and retention, and program participation.
Military Culture Shift presents the story of US military service members, their families, and the institution itself, through the lens of multiple generations and key contributing factors. A licensed counselor and leadership consultant, author Corie Weathers draws from her professional work with military families and leaders, more than 15 years of research, and her own experience as the spouse of an active-duty service member, to offer narrative history, insights, and perspectives on:
- Generational viewpoints, from World War I veterans to today’s recruits (Gen Z)
- Short- and long-term impact of Department of Defense budget decisions
- Emerging social trends within the military community, especially post-9/11
- Cumulative effect of two decades of war on military family wellness
Of special interest to military leaders, service members, military family members, as well as historians, politicians, educators, and counselors, Military Culture Shift helps readers understand and embrace:
- How past decisions have led to the current state
- Generational differences in motivation, trust in authority, and learning styles
- Communication shifts that impact cohesiveness
- Leadership strategies to influence positive changes going forward
“This book is a must read for any military leader serving today …” —General Robert B. “Abe” Abrams, US Army (Ret.)
“… worthy reading to help better understand the trials and complexities of our most precious resource in national security.”—Mac Thornberry, former chairman of House Armed Services Committee
“… a phenomenal study of a vital segment of our society caught in the midst of generational change, reeling from two decades of war, and facing down the greatest threat to our national security in more than three decades.”—Steven Leonard, senior assistant dean of the University of Kansas School of Business; coauthor and editor of To Boldly Go and Power Up
Corie Weathers
Corie Weathers is the author of Military Culture Shift: The Impact of War, Money, and Generational Perspective on Morale, Retention, and Leadership (Forthcoming, November 2023) and Sacred Spaces: My Journey to the Heart of Military Marriage. Over the past two decades as a clinical consultant, she has specialized in marriage, military culture, special forces, and leadership development. A sought-after speaker and consultant, Corie facilitates transformative workshops and retreats for service members and families across the globe. In addition to providing subject matter expertise on military culture, Corie consults organizations and institutions on building trust, creating impactful programming, and working within a multi-generational team.
“… Weathers has done a magnificent job researching in great detail the generational differences that make up our force, and then overlaying … the effects of the 20-year Global War on Terror, resourcing decisions/cuts over time and the subsequent impacts on soldiers and families. … offers recommendations and thoughtful suggestions … This book should be mandatory reading for anyone going into battalion or brigade command (or other service equivalent), general officers, DoD political appointees, and members of Congress and their professional staffs.”
—General Robert B. “Abe” Abrams, US Army (Ret.)
“… In this book, Corie tells the story of a proud but weary force and their families. With grace and honesty, she takes a thoughtful look at cultural shifts—generational, technological, and societal—that provide real challenges. Corie gives a clear-eyed diagnosis and a thoughtful, helpful guide for us all, recognizing that culture is in many ways the most important aspect of any group of people working together for a common purpose. If you are currently serving, have served, or care about those who do, this book is worthy reading to help better understand the trials and complexities of our most precious resource in national security.”
—Mac Thornberry, former chairman of House Armed Services Committee
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