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Of the Troops & For the Troops

Realistic training is the only way to program the instinctive response to stressful situations.

Without beating the old dead horse, everyone should read and take to heart Col Dave Grossman's books "On Combat" and "On Killing".

He is a (the) world renowned expert on the emotional and physical responses to violence. He has studied and referenced 100s of years of military history and how realistic training fundamentally changes ones behavior when faced with danger.

One of the most interesting aspects is the documented statistics that through WW2 only 20% of all combat troops actually could bring themselves to shoot at the enemy. Only 2 in 10 would shoot. The reason was that while they spent a great deal of time developing marksmanship skills they practiced at shooting at bulls eye's across a grassy field and just could not bring themselves to shoot another.

Study in force multipliers quickly showed that troops trained at shooting at lifelike targets in a more realistic format quickly programmed out that basic human instinct not to harm another and that the number that would engage went way up.

This change in training let to stats that in Korea half would shoot, in Viet Nam close to 75% and now almost all American combat troops will shoot if they get half a chance. This is through training that is not much difference than kids playing airsoft in the backyard or first person video shooter games.

FYI in my very limited experience, a amateur YMCA boxer who spars a bit on every week or two can knock most thugs stiff in a couple of seconds. The thug is mean and intent on harm but still know match.

Realistic training gives a one an advantage that cannot be denied.

Peace,

Byron

evolution and I am inclined to agree. A BB gun fight does not equal a gun fight and everybody involved knows that at the outset. We still see people do stupid. self destructive things like turn their back on an armed assailant, committed to killing them, at ranges where the assailant can't miss them. Some people will never acquire the killer instinct no matter how you train them.

If you look hard at successful gunfighters over the past 200 years you will see some common denominators. An intimate familiarity with their weapons, the ability to kill without compunction and commit to the fight until the opponent is vanquished. They did not allow their opponents the opportunity get first hits or to drive the battle. Some were good and some were bad, but none of these guys played at gunfighting.

The bear attack story is just sad and that's all I can say about it.

He will have to live with this all the rest of his life.

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Sincerely,

Hobie