Article on Mental Conditioning / Performance Psychology

[Outlander Systems]

"On patrol in Iraq two years ago, John Way would notice his mind straying. "Maybe I should be watching some guy over there and instead I'm thinking, 'I'm hungry. Where's my next Twinkie?"

Interesting Article on Mental Conditioning / Performance Psychology:

"1911 mag, 1911 mag, Twinkie, Twinkie, Cupcake, Primary weapon mag..."

[rifleman2000]

In my humble opinion, "mental toughness training" is gay. Mental toughness is developed through intense and stressful training events.

As a sidenote, this seems very similar to Project JEDI.

[Outlander Systems]

Mental toughness is developed through intense and stressful training events.

http://www.indystar.com/article/2009...tress+disorder

[rifleman2000]

http://www.indystar.com/article/2009...tress+disorder

I don't have PTSD.

[BLACK LION]

In my humble opinion, "mental toughness training" is gay. Mental toughness is developed through intense and stressful training events.

As a sidenote, this seems very similar to Project JEDI.

IMHO... I disagree.

Here is a snippet from the article that is relative to your comment:

"The Army has always believed if we just train 'em harder, the mental toughness will come," says Lorene Petta, a psychologist at Fort Bragg who works for ACEP. "A lot of times with this population, because they're so rough and tough, they tend to say, 'This is too touchy-feely for me. No thanks.' But we talk about the importance of being a good mental warrior too."


This was a good read...
This can definately help our men and women in uniform...

I know it helps me...

[Outlander Systems]

You're a sample of one.

Some soldiers do actually suffer from PTSD. As well, if this programme can help mitigate the effects of stress from combat, especially for young dudes who just signed up for the college money, it's worth pursuing.

[Failure2Stop]

There are many ways to approach the creation and maintenance of a warrior mindset. The method used by the Vikings was vastly different than that of Samurai, or other comparable eastern civilizations, though both undeniably produced superb results. It does warrant a note that meditation escapism is not new, and the "Samurai Mind Training" is simply a name. To quote the article-

The Samurai image was selected after careful deliberation; it was certifiably anti-sissy. "We took a long time to decide how we were going to package this," says Ernst...

While I am not a proponent of the necessity of meditation to cope with combat stress, if it works for someone there is no reason to poo-poo it. PTSD is a serious concern, though it seems to be primarily manifested in those that were not properly prepared for the reality of violence and boredom found in current conflicts, and if purpose-built mental management/meditation helps to reduce or avoid it, good.

For me, shooting is my meditation. The focus required to place shot on top of shot from 500 yards with an iron sighted service rifle is where I can focus on nothing more than the beat of my heart, the rhythm of my breathing, the flow of the wind, the crystal clear front sight, and the smooth gradual increase of pressure of my finger on the trigger.
Pure Zen dude.

[Heavy Metal]

For me, shooting is my meditation. The focus required to place shot on top of shot from 500 yards with an iron sighted service rifle is where I can focus on nothing more than the beat of my heart, the rhythm of my breathing, the flow of the wind, the crystal clear front sight, and the smooth gradual increase of pressure of my finger on the trigger.
Pure Zen dude.

I used to describe long range Zen back in my service-rifle/high power shooting days as the realization of the instant when the shooter, rifle, bullet, target and the space in-between all become one for a fleeting instant.

[huklbrry]

Those are some cool and poetic descriptions. Just like in Kyudo, "the true shot is not just the one that hits the center of the target, but one where the bullet can be said to exist in the target before its release."

I got a LOOONG time before I attain that kind of Oneness

[Outlander Systems]

I look at mental fortification and the quest to attain the warrior mindset as preventative maintenance.

For example, we don't wait until our automobile's engine burns out from a lack of oil changes, and then replace the engine.

It's better to equip soldiers with intense training, and mental exercise, than to stick some drugs down their throats ex-post-facto, slap 'em on the ass and call it good.

We give our warriors training and equipment, but don't often impart upon them, in any form of regimented process, a cultivation of the warrior spirit. Too frequently it's presumed and assumed that it is simply a by-product of training, and other macho-attitude bullshit.

The macho-tough guy has no warrior spirit. He's simply fueled by interpersonal competition and all the ill-traits of an alpha-male. There's a difference between a warrior and a rockstar.

I've often argued that the spiritual component of warfare is what has been lacking in the modern ground-pounder, that was almost universally present in melee-based, historic warfare.

I believe the 19 year-old, who joined up for some college cash and the G.I. bill is not as properly equipped as someone who has the warrior fire and enlists for a combat arms position, for the sake of seeking an outlet for that. One of these two is going to have a better ability to cope with the emotional issues that evolve from war than the other, based on the nature, or inherent spirt, of the motivation to serve. That isn't to say that the hard-charging, squared-away, lightning pissing, thunder shitting guy has magical powers of war; the washout rate in the selection process is evident of this; however, once through that process, the individual who succeeds has shown mental strength.

That being said, just because someone isn't inherently blessed with the capability to deal with stressful situations easily, doesn't mean that some sort of training process shouldn't be available, or that this individual isn't capable of embarking successfully down the warrior's path. Encountering stress isn't something that one often gets the opportunity to take a vote on. Stressors come to you. The lightning pisser just happens to seek them out, indicating that, through exposure, and whatever he brings to the field, he is naturally more equipped to process that stress in a positive manner.

If a spiritual component can be brought into the military, as the essence of the thing itself, I believe soldiers could be more likely to see the importance of what they're doing, and have a true sense of esprit de corps, rather than just simply "high morale". When there's a spiritual connection to what one's duty is, said person is invincible, regardless of success or failure.

Every soldier should be given, at the very least, the option of this.