The Arrival of the Transcultural Caravan in the German Armed Forces: The Bundeswehr

In many areas of life, but also in science, the question arises of how to deal with change. In addition to technical or organisational adjustments, the question of how to deal with change is always also about processes of (organisational) cultural change. This is also accompanied by changes and developments in the understanding of central concepts such as “culture”. In this sense, the very title “Transcultural Caravan” for the present research project of the Leadership Excellence Institute of Zeppelin University (LEIZ) is an indication of a change in the scientific discussion of the phenomenon of “culture”. Opening up to members of other cultures and developing the cultural competencies required for this is therefore a task for society as a whole. Consequently, this topic is now taken into account in many relevant political departments, this explicitly includes the armed forces of Germany. In particular, the question of the didactics of (trans-)cultural competence in the armed forces is dealt with using the example of the generally known method of training boards. The method is characterised by a high degree of self-reflection and interaction, which is promoted by the small groups. Thus, for the present research context, it fulfils one of the core aspects of a relational approach. It is not just about cultural differences, but about the relationship that is created through the interaction between these people as bearers of the culture. The training board helps the armed forces in training to enable just this.