Military Culture—A Very Brief Overview

Sex in the military is a mirror of sex any place else where Americans live and work. However, there are a few complexities that help define sex in the military as different at times.

There is the never knowing when you will be put in harm's way—but always expecting it and always training for it. This can contribute to a sense of fatalism or cynicism within the culture of the military, or a bit of a devil may care attitude when it comes to what you do in your free time.

There's also the emphasis on the body and its abilities, the impact of group living, and constantly being moved from one base to another. This can make for a climate where the sex is catch as catch can. And soldiers are frequently immersed in cultures where sex is perceived differently than it is here. In foreign lands, sexual economies often thrive around military bases. Even here in the states, different bases seem to have different sexual cultures.

These are just some of the factors that help give sex in the military its very own and sometimes unique perspective.