Posted on Dec 23, 2014
Excellent Article on "Natural Killers" in the military - it's not what you think!
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Took some time to read the article below. It is pretty much spot on. While I make no claims to being one, nor would I, I do fit a lot of the personality traits listed in the article. What are your thoughts?
Here's the link: http://tacticalshit.com/natural-killers-turning-tide-battle/
Here's the link: http://tacticalshit.com/natural-killers-turning-tide-battle/
Posted 10 y ago
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- Great article.
- Well written, thought out, and cited.
- Matches with my personal experiences and with what MAJ Dick Winters (Band of Brothers) wrote about in his book.
- Provides good insights for what an Army leader should look for and how he/she should place individuals within their formation.
- Well written, thought out, and cited.
- Matches with my personal experiences and with what MAJ Dick Winters (Band of Brothers) wrote about in his book.
- Provides good insights for what an Army leader should look for and how he/she should place individuals within their formation.
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A great surface review of what is hopefully a new version of "On Killing," for the modern battlefield and the social factors that go into the making of a warrior. I passed this on to my Troop and Company Commanders under the heading, "Know Your Soldiers." Properly identifying these types of people and placing them in the right spot on the battlefield is important. It also highlights what we already know. Repetition in training=more trigger pullers in combat. The pop-up, trigger squeeze response is necessary and if conditioned and rewarded, will result in a Vietnam like fighting rate.
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Fascinating. Interesting. Thought provoking.
I have often wondered if I could have pulled the trigger.
When I was commissioned into the Adjutant General Corps, a couple of my fellow graduates of Infantry Officer Candidate School commented that it was a good thing inasmuch as they didn't think I could kill someone.
I don't know what gave them that idea.
Should I feel complimented?
However, I did learn that I was capable of ordering others to kill.
Although I wasn't a combat officer, every base camp perimeter in Vietnam was a front line and I had occasion to lead patrols outside the wire and I gave the order to open fire on hostiles.
Is giving the order the same as pulling the trigger?
Like I said, thought provoking...
I have often wondered if I could have pulled the trigger.
When I was commissioned into the Adjutant General Corps, a couple of my fellow graduates of Infantry Officer Candidate School commented that it was a good thing inasmuch as they didn't think I could kill someone.
I don't know what gave them that idea.
Should I feel complimented?
However, I did learn that I was capable of ordering others to kill.
Although I wasn't a combat officer, every base camp perimeter in Vietnam was a front line and I had occasion to lead patrols outside the wire and I gave the order to open fire on hostiles.
Is giving the order the same as pulling the trigger?
Like I said, thought provoking...
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SFC (Join to see)
Personally, I'd say no, ordering others to kill for you is not the same as actually pulling the trigger yourself. If you hunt, you'd probably realize this (don't know if you do). One fact I do know, is that those who grow up hunting, have a much easier time in combat - killing the bad guys - than those who don't. I didn't grow up hunting, but I did not have an issue when it came down to it - you either shoot, or you get shot. All that being said, a person giving the orders to shoot, has an easier time of it because he is not the person that pulls that last mm of trigger to send a lethal projectile into the body of the enemy. In any case, I suspect the hardest part of command, is probably ordering your guys into a situation where you know they're going to get killed, and having to live with that.
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CPT Jack Durish
The distinction between commissioned officers and noncommissioned officers is responsibility. When I gave orders to fire, I would be held responsible for the outcome. That's why I asked. I know that good noncoms took responsibility for their actions and would also be held responsible (unless a commissioned officer was there to take it = and I know that bad commissioned officers would duck responsibility if they could)
I'm not sure that hunting animals equates with hunting men. Those who "hunt" for sadistic pleasure (for example, children who kill song birds) are budding sociopaths. However, hunting for food, hides, etc, is quite different. I have done that.
I guess I'll have to wait to reread the article to see if the author mentioned hunting as an indicator. I didn't notice it on first pass
I'm not sure that hunting animals equates with hunting men. Those who "hunt" for sadistic pleasure (for example, children who kill song birds) are budding sociopaths. However, hunting for food, hides, etc, is quite different. I have done that.
I guess I'll have to wait to reread the article to see if the author mentioned hunting as an indicator. I didn't notice it on first pass
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