On Combat

This week combat commanders rejected a recommendation by Army psychiatric community to control operational stress through frequent in theater rotations. (See USA Today 19 June 2007: “Troop’s 1-Month Break Blocked“) The specific recommendation was for units to rotate out of the line for one month out of every four. The benefits would include maintenance of unit […]

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Last month’s publication of the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) mental health assessment indicates a long-term problem for American warriors: repeat deployments are drawing from a finite well of courage, and the well isn’t re-filling between deployments.
Last month the Army Surgeon General’s office posted its fourth OIF Mental Health Assessment Team (MHAT) report dated November 2006. […]

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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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