Has anybody read "On Killing" by Dave Grossman? If so, do you think it was beneficial to your service in combat?

SSG Gerhard S. — Thu, 14 May 2015 21:43:21 -0400

"On Killing" puts into perspective a host of issues that never occur to sane people in ordinary circumstances, but is prescient to all who find themselves in a combat zone. If you haven't read this illustrative book, I hope you are considering doing so.

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Response by COL Charles Williams made May 14 at 2015 11:45 PM

COL Charles Williams — Thu, 14 May 2015 23:45:17 -0400

I have, and it is worth reading. I think it is useful.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made May 15 at 2015 10:14 AM

SSG Gerhard S. — Fri, 15 May 2015 10:14:29 -0400

One of the benefits I garnered from the book is the fact that not ALL soliders (generically speaking) are "killers". We've certainly been able to increase our percentage of killers on the battlefield through the conditioned response of shooting at pop-up targets, but the percentage has not always been as high as it is today. Understanding this is important because it allows a leader to best utilize his assets, and to understand WHY some people act as they do under fire. On a smaller note I was surprised to find that the act of stabbing at another human being is (almost universally and historically)repulsive. Such knowledge can be beneficial in close combat as well. Additionally, I made sure to share with my team the fact that soldiers find it easier to shoot another man in the back than when looking him in the face....

There were a large number of informational facts backed up with statistics that were beneficial in my success as the leader of a Long Range Surveillance Team in Iraq.