Description
This paper explores the use of autoethnography as an innovative method to research military training. Autoethnography interprets the lived experiences and self-reflections of the author, who participates in and is directly impacted by the main research space. Understandably, militaries are exclusive entities and conducting research to better understand them can be severely restricted. When insiders to the military domain – military training in this case – undertake military-related research, they are often well placed in terms of access and unique insights. In such instances, these individuals become ‘dual-hatted’ as practitioners (insiders) and researchers (outsiders), which can be a rewarding, yet challenging positionality to undertake. Autoethnography provides a fruitful way to explore this insider-outsider positionality. However, it is not without its ethical and practical challenges. Drawing on ongoing research into military training for NATO troops, this paper starts by discussing the traditional application of autoethnography and how it has been adapted to accommodate the restrictions associated with military-related research. The paper then explores the opportunities and challenges associated with conducting autoethnography within a military training research context. To conclude, the paper discusses the potential of further developing autoethnography as an innovative research method in military research.
