On Combat

Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell’s SEAL team was discovered and engaged by a large Taliban force in Kunar Province, January 2005. Luttrell’s team killed 35 Taliban, but all three of Luttrell’s teammates died in the firefight and Luttrell was seriously wounded. As Luttrell hung onto life, a group of Afghans found him, cared for him, and […]

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There may be no greater emotional shock in combat than the violent death of a comrade. Survivor’s guilt, rage, or thirst for revenge are very strong emotions that naturally spring from the heart of any human being. These emotions are amplified by adrenaline and arousal inherent to highly stressful situations. Some of these emotions may […]

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What strategists should know about “human constants” in war:

Wars place warriors into harm’s way with a mandate from society to use force against other men and women in pursuit of society’s objectives.
The inevitable exposure to danger and the interplay of opposing forces give rise to a range of emotions including fear, doubt, anger, rage, and […]

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